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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed Thursday the reformulated COVID-19 booster shots authorized by U.S. regulators one day prior, clearing the way for people to seek another shot before a potential winter surge.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky signed off on the boosters after agency advisers voted, 13-1, in favor of distributing the “bivalent” shots from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which target both the original strain of the coronavirus and dominant variants known as BA.4 and BA.5.
The shots should reach pharmacies and other vaccination sites around the country after the Labor Day holiday.
Officials say the retooled boosters will provide better protection against the strains that are dominant and can evade some immune defenses.
“They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants,” Dr. Walensky said.
“This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion.
