Booster

U.S. health regulators are expected to authorize a booster shot of Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 as soon as Tuesday, the New York Times reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The companies submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the authorization last month. They have cited data from a mid- to late-stage study showing a third dose of their shot increased protection against the original coronavirus version and the Omicron variant among children in the age group. It is unclear how much demand there is for the third dose in the age group. Just 28.8% of children aged 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A meeting of outside vaccine experts on an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been scheduled for Thursday, the report said. The FDA declined to comment, while Pfizer and BioNTech did not … [Read more...] about FDA to soon authorize Pfizer’s COVID booster shot for younger kids: NYT

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday recommended the COVID-19 vaccine booster for children ages 5 to 11 after an advisory panel voted to back them, at least five months after completing their primary vaccination course. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement that she "endorsed" the vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices "to expand eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. Children 5 through 11 should receive a booster dose at least 5 months after their primary series." "With over 18 million doses administered in this age group, we know that these vaccines are safe, and we must continue to increase the number of children who are protected," Walensky added. The advisers considered data from the CDC that showed protection from the initial two shots starts to wane over time, and that boosters in older age groups improved efficacy against severe COVID and hospitalizations. The Food and Drug Administration … [Read more...] about U.S. CDC backs COVID boosters for children 5 to 11

Elderly people in Tây Mỗ Ward, Nam Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội receive COVID-19 vaccines in early 2022. Seniors are set to be the first to get the fourth vaccine shots in the upcoming rollout. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese health ministry has asked provincial/municipal health departments to provide the tentative number of vaccines needed for the rollout of second COVID-19 booster shots (fourth doses) before May 25, 2022. The second boosters will for now be for adults over 50 years, or people from 18 years old with immunocompromised conditions from mild to severe level, or people from 18 years old who are at risk of exposure to the virus (frontline healthcare workers, officials, and workers at industrial parks, etc.). The latest document was sent to local health departments, health department of the public security ministry, and the military medicine department, Pasteur institutes and the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE). mRNA COVID-19 … [Read more...] about Việt Nam gears up for rollout of fourth COVID-19 vaccine shots

Ho Chi Minh City is expected to start offering fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines to residents next week, according to Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy director of the Municipal Department of Health. Priority will be given to more than 1.8 million people aged 50 years or older, Nam said on May 13 while meeting with voters in Districts No7 and Nha Be. The fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot will mostly be administered to elderly and high-risk populations. These booster shots will also be given to people aged 18 years or older with moderate to severe immunodeficiency or belonging to a group at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 such as healthcare workers, frontline workers, and people working in industrial parks. The city will arrange mobile vaccination venues besides hospitals and injection sites. Vaccines to be used will be the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. Several day ago the Ministry of Health requested localities to work out a vaccination plan for the fourth doses to be … [Read more...] about HCM City to offer fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses next week

An old people gets vaccinated against Covid-19 at Le Van Thinh Hospital in Thu Duc City. The rollout is aimed at the highest risk groups, including people aged 50 and older (around 1.8 million people), those aged above 18 with immunodeficiency, and specific groups at risk. According to the document, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines have been approved for fourth booster shots . The program aims to protect people who are coming on four months since their first booster (the third shot) and recovered Covid-19 patients who had a third dose. The People’s Committees of wards, communes, and towns must submit lists of those who should get priority access to a vaccine. The vaccine program will be kicked off right after receiving Covid-19 vaccines from the Ministry of Health. By Quang Huy – Translated by Kim Khanh … [Read more...] about HCMC plans to provide fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose

HCM City locals vulnerable to COVID will be able to receive their fourth vaccine shots soon. – VNA Photo Hoàng Tuyết HCM CITY – HCM City has announced plans to give a second COVID-19 booster shot (fourth dose) to vulnerable people. They will be given to immunocompromised people, those aged over 50 and people who are at risk of exposure to the virus like frontline healthcare workers. The inoculation will begin as soon as the vaccines are received from the Ministry of Health. Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines will be used, and the recommendation is that the fourth dose should be the same as the third. There should be a gap of at least four months from the third, while those who have contracted COVID-19 should wait for three months from the time of recovery. The vaccination will be done at hospitals and vaccination sites. People from other provinces being treated at city hospitals will also get the shots. People unable to travel will be vaccinated at home. Some … [Read more...] about HCM City prepares to give 4th COVID vaccine shot