U.S. FDA authorizes 2nd COVID-19 booster for older Americans
Global News
The Food and Drug Administration's decision opens a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to people age 50 and older at least four months after their previous booster.
Americans 50 and older can get a second COVID-19booster if it’s been at least four months since their last vaccination, a chance at extra protection for the most vulnerable in case the coronavirus rebounds.
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for that age group and for certain younger people with severely weakened immune systems.
Hours later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the extra shot as an option but stopped short of urging that those eligible rush out and get it right away. That decision expands the additional booster to millions more Americans.
Everyone eligible for a first booster who hasn’t gotten one yet needs to, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said. But the second booster is only for these higher-risk groups because there’s evidence protection can wane and FDA decided the option “will help save lives and prevent severe outcomes.”
The move comes at a time of great uncertainty. COVID-19 cases have dropped to low levels after the winter surge of the super-contagious omicron variant. Two vaccine doses plus a booster still provide strong protection against severe disease and death, CDC data show.
But an omicron sibling is causing a worrisome jump in infections in Europe — and spreading in the U.S. _ even as vaccination has stalled. About two-thirds of Americans are fully vaccinated, and half of those eligible for a first booster haven’t gotten one.
Pfizer had asked the FDA to clear a fourth shot for people 65 and older, while Moderna requested another dose for all adults “to provide flexibility” for the government to decide who really needs one.
FDA’s Marks said regulators set the age at 50 because that’s when chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes become more common, increasing the risks from COVID-19.
A decision on the future of coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is expected within 90 days after a public hearing into the project wrapped up Thursday.
After a long spell of warm, dry weather, an Arctic cold front is forecast to descend over Alberta this weekend — sending temperatures plunging by up to 40 degrees.
While sitting down to watch your favourite television show may seem like a relaxing way to unwind, it also could fuel your appetite, leading to binge eating.
U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.
A group of global experts is proposing a new way to define and diagnose obesity, reducing the emphasis on the controversial body mass index.
Dave and Barb Enns were killed when a landslide swept over their home in Lions Bay on Dec. 14, 2024.
Tina Bitangcol is a labour and delivery nurse and mom of four who shares her personal and professional knowledge with the 1.5 million followers of her 'Mama Nurse Tina' persona.
Some of the 'TikTok refugees,' as they call themselves, say the TikTok alternative, a Chinese app, is being chosen in protest of the TikTok ban.
Some protein powders, particularly plant-based and chocolate-flavoured varieties, have been found to contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, according to a recent report.
For four grueling hours, a Winnipeg firefighter, his partner and a friend battled the blaze and choking smoke near Pasadena — even climbing on a roof to hose down a burning house.
Firefighters spent the weekend blocking the explosive growth of fires that destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people in the Los Angeles area.
A California man whose two cats died after drinking raw milk recalled for bird flu risk says he meant to keep his beloved pets healthy, but his efforts tragically backfired.
As interest in more environmentally-friendly burial options grows, one Ontario company is trying to help cemeteries across the county offer affordable and greener alternatives.
An Ontario public health official says they've detected norovirus among a group of 190 people reporting symptoms of gastroenteritis at the University of Guelph over the last week.
Scientists think that the winter surge of flu and cold activity may be because we spend more time indoors and the cold, dry air may weaken our defenses.
David and Barbara Enss were killed on Dec. 14, 2024, when their home was destroyed by a landslide that spilled across the Sea to Sky Highway and into Howe Sound.
In addition to provinces and territories having to buy COVID-19 vaccines going forward, they will also be responsible for determining the timing of vaccinations.
As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, the smoke billowing into the air carries more than the expected risks of particulate matter and carbon emissions.