Washington, Sept. 25 (BNA): Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle Walinsky said she has recommended booster doses for at-risk adult workers to protect essential workers and minority communities despite the agency’s advisory committee voting against the measure.
The US government is introducing boosters beginning with third doses of the Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech vaccine to Americans 65 and older, adults with underlying medical conditions and those at high risk in the workplace and institutions, after health regulators authorized He moved this week and Walensky signed it earlier on Friday.
“Many of the front-line workers, essential workers, and those who are in gatherings, come from communities that have already been hit hard,” Walinsky told reporters. “It was a decision about providing access rather than blocking it.”
Walensky’s decision breaks with a recommendation Thursday by a group of outside experts who felt that a narrower group of people should initially get the extra shot. She is not obligated to follow the advice of the Committee.
“This was a close scientific call. In this case, it was my call to make it,” she said at a White House press briefing.
Walensky said the CDC will update its guidance on boosters as needed, and expects to evaluate data in the coming weeks about boosters for recipients of COVID-19 vaccines Moderna (MRNA.O) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N), Reuters reports.
“We are prepared and prepared and implementation is happening as we speak. So there are people who are going to get their booster doses early this afternoon,” said Jeff Zentes, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, who was also at the briefing.