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| Covid booster: US approves third jab for the immunocompromised | Covid booster: US approves third jab for the immunocompromised |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| US drug regulators have given approval for immunocompromised Americans to get an additional Covid jab as a booster to help stave off infection and illness. | US drug regulators have given approval for immunocompromised Americans to get an additional Covid jab as a booster to help stave off infection and illness. |
| The order issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affects around 10 million people, including transplant recipients and cancer patients. | The order issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affects around 10 million people, including transplant recipients and cancer patients. |
| It marks the first time that US health officials have indicated that booster shots may be necessary to fight Covid. | It marks the first time that US health officials have indicated that booster shots may be necessary to fight Covid. |
| Several others countries have begun providing booster jabs to some groups. | Several others countries have begun providing booster jabs to some groups. |
| The issue of booster vaccines will be discussed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccines panel at a meeting on Friday. If approved by the group, boosters could become available by this weekend. | The issue of booster vaccines will be discussed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccines panel at a meeting on Friday. If approved by the group, boosters could become available by this weekend. |
| Experts say the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson may not sufficiently protect some people, especially those who have a weakened immune system. | Experts say the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson may not sufficiently protect some people, especially those who have a weakened immune system. |
| All three vaccines are currently approved in the US under an emergency use authorisation. Pfizer, which has applied for full authorisation, has lobbied US and European regulators to approve a third booster dose. | All three vaccines are currently approved in the US under an emergency use authorisation. Pfizer, which has applied for full authorisation, has lobbied US and European regulators to approve a third booster dose. |
| It comes as evidence grows that antibody protection from vaccines may wear off over time, and as some people seek their third dose on the black market. | It comes as evidence grows that antibody protection from vaccines may wear off over time, and as some people seek their third dose on the black market. |
| On Thursday, US disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said boosters may only be needed for those whose immune systems are low. | On Thursday, US disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci said boosters may only be needed for those whose immune systems are low. |
| "We don't feel at this particular point that apart from the immune-compromised, we don't feel we need to give boosters right now," the advisor to President Joe Biden told CBS. | "We don't feel at this particular point that apart from the immune-compromised, we don't feel we need to give boosters right now," the advisor to President Joe Biden told CBS. |
| Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, has called for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September to allow every country to vaccinate at least 10% of their population. | Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, has called for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September to allow every country to vaccinate at least 10% of their population. |
| Israel has already provided booster shots to people over 60 who were vaccinated at least five months earlier. | Israel has already provided booster shots to people over 60 who were vaccinated at least five months earlier. |
| The UK, France and Germany had plans to begin distributing them starting in September. | The UK, France and Germany had plans to begin distributing them starting in September. |
| In Chile, which began giving booster shots on Wednesday to people vaccinated with the Chinese Sinovac vaccine, queues formed outside clinics as the elderly scrambled to increase their immunity. | |
| Other countries planning a booster rollout include Sweden, the UAE, Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea. | Other countries planning a booster rollout include Sweden, the UAE, Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea. |
| In other Covid news: | In other Covid news: |
| The weekly average number of cases has climbed 25%, CDC Director Rachel Wolensky said on Thursday, with about 113,000 per day last week. She added that 90% of the US is now seeing substantial transmission, meaning masks should be worn indoors in those regions | The weekly average number of cases has climbed 25%, CDC Director Rachel Wolensky said on Thursday, with about 113,000 per day last week. She added that 90% of the US is now seeing substantial transmission, meaning masks should be worn indoors in those regions |
| California has become the first US state to require public and private school teachers and staff to be vaccinated | California has become the first US state to require public and private school teachers and staff to be vaccinated |
| The Department of Health and Human Services is requiring its 25,000 health workers to get vaccinated | The Department of Health and Human Services is requiring its 25,000 health workers to get vaccinated |
| Florida's Broward County, one of the largest school districts in the state, has said they will require students to wear masks despite a threat from the Republican governor to withhold funds from schools with mask mandates | Florida's Broward County, one of the largest school districts in the state, has said they will require students to wear masks despite a threat from the Republican governor to withhold funds from schools with mask mandates |
| More Texas school districts are defiantly requiring students to be masked, despite the governor's ban on local governments issuing Covid mandates | More Texas school districts are defiantly requiring students to be masked, despite the governor's ban on local governments issuing Covid mandates |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| As Canada opens its border to vaccinated Americans. How do Canadians feel about the move? | As Canada opens its border to vaccinated Americans. How do Canadians feel about the move? |