Pfizer Set to Ask FDA to OK Booster for Those 18 and Older

Pfizer may soon seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency authorization of its COVID-19 booster shot for anyone aged 18 and older.

Officials familiar with the situation told the Washington Post that the request could be filed as soon as this week and is likely to be supported by the FDA, according to the three insiders who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue.

If approval is given, it would fulfill the Biden administration's plan to provide boosters for all adults and could increase booster rates at a critical point in the pandemic, the Post reports.

Health officials have also said Americans can "mix-and-match" booster shots to increase antibodies to fight the coronavirus. People can get any one of the three booster doses, regardless of which shot they received first.

Under the recommendations, at least 179 million people, or 69 percent of the adult population, are eligible for boosters, according to administration officials. Other estimates put the number even higher.

"Biologically, it makes sense" to need additional shots to get the greatest protection from the vaccines, Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-disease physician at the University of California, San Francisco, tells the Post.

Why should young people get the booster shot?

He adds that there is "some value" in young people getting a booster to protect older relatives as the holidays approach.

That's especially true, he says, if the older person has an illness, such as some cancers, that makes it harder for the body to

fight COVID-19 even with a vaccine.

Meanwhile, the country is still seeing more than 70,000 coronavirus cases a day and more than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths a day, according to the newspaper's COVID-19 tracker.

In addition, federal health officials are concerned about the increased spread of the virus during the holiday season as large numbers of people travel and gather indoors.

State and federal health officials are worried about the states of Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona and Vermont, where cases have been rising.

What to know about getting booster shots

If you are interested in or plan on getting a booster shot, here is what you should know according to AARP:

Just like with the initial COVID-19 vaccines, there are no out-of-pocket costs to get a booster shot; no insurance or ID is required.
You can find booster shots where you find the COVID-19 vaccines — pharmacies, doctor’s offices, community health clinics, etc. You may need an appointment, so check in on the details.
It’s a good idea to call ahead of time to confirm the location has the booster brand you want to receive.
Bring your COVID-19 vaccine card so it can be updated to include your booster. Lost it? Here’s some advice on what to do.
You may experience some mild to moderate side effects after your booster — the most common are fatigue and pain at the injection site.