The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine boosters for people aged 50 years and older in the view of providing extra protection to the most vulnerable as the sub-variant is causing resurgence in many parts of the world.Till date the USFDA had authorized fourth doses only for people 12 years and older having severely weakened immune systems. The agency stated that this group can be offered a fifth dose.

Pfizer vaccine was to be administered to those as young as 12, while Moderna′s vaccine was for adults.

The FDA stated that the lower limit of age was 50 because it was at this age that most people start developing chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes which increases the risks from COVID-19 infection. The immune-compromised group would benefit from extra protection. Preliminary data from Israel showed low death incidences (92 deaths) among people (328,000) receiving an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to 232 deaths among 234,000 people who didn’t take the fourth dose, providing evidence for the need for the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.(ET, Healthworld – AP, March 30, 2022)