FDA advisory committee votes against Pfizer booster shot per Bloomberg

[JohnSJ]

16-2

This is for the broad use of boosters for everyone

They are still considering a limited use for the older population

It is possible that the FDA can over-rule this, though that is rare

[lagomorph777]

1. Yikes. So we should just watch our immunity slowly wane away?

What's the plan now?

[JohnSJ]

6. I just edited the OP. This was for the broad use of boosters. Now they are consider a limited

use in an older population

It also is an advisory committee. The FDA may still override that, though that is usually not the case.

[In_The_Wind]

2. My husband, a 71 year old heath care worker, may need to quit his job.

[wryter2000]

23. Recommended for him, yay.

Over 65 is recommended.

[wryter2000]

3. Shit

Last edited Fri Sep 17, 2021, 05:11 PM - Edit history (1)

No flying to visit my brother if some maskhole can infect me. I don't want a "mild" infection.

On edit: recommended for those of us over 65.

[Cobalt Violet]

4. okay then I'll get a Moderna booster.

[LisaL]

8. They weren't even trying to approve Moderna booster.

NT

[BannonsLiver]

17. Right now the boosters are just what you got before.

At this time there’s no delta specific booster available. I feel like there’s a lot of confusion (not saying you) among the public at large about what exactly the “booster” that is available actually is.

[Ocelot II]

5. More details here:

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/09/17/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine

Apparently this decision pertains to making boosters available to the general population, but no decision has been made yet about offering them to more vulnerable people, e.g., people over 65.

[JohnSJ]

7. Thanks, I also edited the OP to reflect that. It is an advisory committee that could also be

over-ruled by the FDA, though that rarely happens

[LisaL]

9. Who are these people?

Israel is boosting everyone, UK is offering boosters.
We are leading the world in number of infections, for crying out loud.

[JohnSJ]

10. An advisory committee to the FDA. They haven't ruled on boosters just for an older population

and the FDA can over-rule this advisory committee, though it is rare they would do that

[DET]

11. Lost Trust

I don’t trust the FDAs or the CDCs recommendations anymore. I suspect that they’re based more on political than scientific considerations.

[SoonerPride]

12. I think the science shots boosters aren't wifdely needed

The purpose of the vaccine is to keep you out of the hospital or dead from covid.

Not to immunize you against catching it at all or even getting sick fro it.

So far the data seems to suggest even with waning antibody levels they are sufficient iin the vast majority of the under 65 populations to do what they were intended to do.

Would I like a booster? sure
But is it really necessary? no, not really.

[BannonsLiver]

13. I'll be getting one soon anyway.

Anecdotally I know at least a dozen people who had no trouble getting them. Not a lot of questions being asked.

[LeftInTX]

18. But that was before today

Maybe I'll get mine before they run out.

I was waiting until October for my 8 months.

[Treefrog]

14. I'll follow the science.

Unfortunately the science seems to be all over the place here.

Glad I didn’t run out and get a booster though.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. I'm glad I did.

[Treefrog]

25. Good!

[TheRealNorth]

15. The vaccine could probably still be given "off label"

But in those cases, insurance would probably not pay for it.

Also, I suspect boosters will eventually happen. The issue was the data on waning immunity presented by Pfizer was not independently reviewed by experts.

There were other questions about what Pfizer was measuring (they measured only antibodies), while they failed to look at other parts of the immune system. The point is that as you get farther and farther away from the exposure to an antigen (the virus or the vaccine), most of your antibodies (IgG antibodies) against Covid will go away. However, the immune system maintains other types of antibodies at low levels that will help ramp up production of IgG if an infection is encountered again.

Now there may be questions about whether you are more likely to be an asymptomatic carrier, or experience mild symptoms, if the amount of IgG gets too low (as it takes the body time to make more). This is why boosters are more important for immune-compromised individuals, who may have a tougher time making more antibodies quickly.

There is also the potential issue of new strains of Covid with resistance to the current vaccine, but that would probably mean we would need new versions of the vaccine, kind of like the new versions we need for the flu vaccine.

[TheRealNorth]

19. I understand the angst

My mother is over 65 and is immune-compromised, and I want her to have a booster.

I think it comes mostly out of a concern for the safety and health of loved ones.

[LisaL]

20. Immune-compromised are already eligible for boosters.

NT

[meow2u3]

21. I'm 61 and have diabetes

I'll have to wait for the Moderna booster to be approved. Until then, I'll just make an appointment to get my flu shot in about 2 weeks.

[LisaL]

22. Boosters are allowed for immuno compromised.

NT