Washington:
Drug maker Johnson & Johnson asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday to authorize booster shots of its Covid-19 vaccine for persons more than the age of 18.
“Our clinical program has found that a booster of our Covid-19 vaccine increases levels of protection for those who have received our single-shot vaccine to 94 percent,” stated Mathai Mammen, international head of study and development at J&J.
J&J stated that when a booster was offered six months right after the initially shot, “antibody levels increased nine-fold one week after the booster and continued to climb to 12-fold higher four weeks after the booster,” irrespective of age.
“We look forward to our discussions with the FDA and other health authorities to support their decisions regarding boosters,” Mammen stated.
President Joe Biden’s administration announced plans in August for Americans vaccinated with the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines to get third shots.
Biden personally received a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot last month and told Americans nonetheless resisting vaccination they are damaging the nation.
The president received a third Pfizer dose in line with not too long ago authorized well being guidance, which enables boosters for these 65 or older.
Also eligible for boosters are adults with higher-threat health-related situations and these in jobs exactly where they are regularly exposed to the virus.
The FDA stated Tuesday its advisory committee will meet on October 14 to talk about an emergency use authorization of Moderna booster shots and on October 15 to disuss the J&J booster.
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