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Boosters are recommended for certain recipients of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine. (Courtesy Texas Children’s Hospital)
As Austin area health officials continue to urge unvaccinated residents to seek their first COVID-19 vaccines, they’re also starting to offer booster vaccinations to some qualified people.
Similar to the first vaccination rollout that began in late 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have taken a step-by-step approach to making booster vaccinations available. As with cities in the United States, some Austin residents are already eligible for boosters while others have not yet been recommended.
When and why are boosters recommended?
The FDA consulted research from Pfizer’s clinical trials, as well as real-world data from vaccine administration in the United States and other countries, suggesting that the Pfizer vaccine may be somewhat less effective about six months after the first two-dose series of vaccinations to a patient. A third dose given between six and eight months after the second dose can get immunity back to peak levels, according to the FDA.
Who is entitled to a booster vaccination?
The FDA first issued emergency approval for a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine on August 12, but only for certain immunocompromised people. People in the treatment of tumors and blood cancer, people taking immunosuppressants after organ transplants, people with advanced or untreated HIV, people with immunocompromising conditions, people with certain chronic conditions, and those on dialysis were included in the first group to be approved for booster sessions.
On September 12, the FDA voted not to approve the booster for everyone aged 16 and over, in line with the World Health Organization’s recommendation that the booster should be suspended until more people in the world have had access to their first doses. However, the FDA has extended approval for emergency use to those over 65 and those over 16 who have high-risk medical conditions or work in high-risk environments such as hospitals.
Are boosters available for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines?
The FDA has not yet issued any recommendations for Moderna or Johnson & Johnson boosters.
However, Johnson & Johnson announced data in late August to support the administration of an additional Johnson & Johnson dose eight months after administration of the first dose.
“We found that a single shot of our COVID-19 vaccine produces strong and robust immune responses that are sustained and sustained for over eight months. With this new data, we also see that a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine further increases antibody responses in subjects who previously received our vaccine, ”said Mathai Mammen, who leads vaccine research at Johnson & Johnson.
Moderna announced on September 1 that it had also submitted data to the FDA for a booster vaccination that, according to representatives, shows “robust antibody responses against the Delta variant”.
Currently, people who have received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson doses are being advised by the FDA not to look for a Pfizer booster due to limited data on the effects of mixed doses.
Where can I get booster shots in Austin?
On September 28, Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup used COVID-19 booster shots in a presentation to the Austin City Council and Travis County Commissioners Court. She said APH is poised to add the widespread range of boosters to the range of vaccines once the FDA approves Pfizer’s vaccine booster for all adults.
“As a community we were mostly Moderna. Of the 460 several thousand recordings [APH administered], only 5,841 of them are Pfizer, ”said Sturrup.
Currently, eligible individuals can receive a third dose of Pfizer at any APH vaccine clinic. You can also find them at pharmacies and health care providers in the Austin area.
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