Federal regulators are likely to approve a third shot against Covid-19 for vaccinated adults that begins at least six months after the second dose instead of the eight-month gap they previously announced, said a person familiar with the plans. while the Biden administration intensifies preparations to deliver drivers to the public.
Data from vaccine manufacturers and other countries under review by the Food and Drug Administration are based on booster administration at six months, the person said. The person said booster approval was expected for the three Covid-19 outlets administered in the United States, those manufactured by Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, in mid-September.
The Biden administration and companies have said there should be enough supply for the boosters. The United States has bought 1 billion combined doses of Pfizer and Modern.
A White House spokesman declined to comment. An FDA spokeswoman declined to comment on interactions with vaccine manufacturers.
Pfizer and BioNTech said Wednesday they had asked U.S. health regulators to authorize Covid-19 vaccine boosters and submit additional data showing a third dose improves protection against the virus. The FDA fully approved the vaccine on Monday. Biden administration officials have said they expect full approval to encourage more people to get vaccinated, raising inoculation rates that recently exceeded 60 percent of the eligible U.S. population.