IDHW releases statement regarding COVID-19 boosters

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare released the following statement regarding Friday's meeting of the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.

"The Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee met today (Friday) and voted that the known and potential benefits of a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for people 65 years and older and those at high risk of severe disease outweigh the risks. Boosters are for those who have completed the primary Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine series at least six months before.

FDA will now consider whether to authorize boosters for these populations. Based on discussion of the committee, FDA is also considering authorizing booster doses for other populations such as healthcare workers who are at high risk for occupational exposure.

The Department of Health and Welfare does not recommend administration of booster doses for these populations until after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meets and makes a recommendation on booster dose administration on Sept. 22-23.

At this time, a third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (for people ages 12 years old and older) or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (for people ages 18 years old and older) after an initial two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine series continues to be recommended for moderately to severely immunocompromised people.