The Biden administration’s plan for a widespread booster programme was dealt another blow as a panel of advisers to the top public health agency recommended that a third dose be offered only to the elderly and people with underlying health conditions but not those working in jobs with high risk of Covid-19 exposure.
The vaccine committee advising the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted unanimously to recommend booster doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine to people aged over 65 years and care home residents, and 13-2 to approve boosters for people aged 50-64 with underlying medical conditions.
The committee voted 9-6 to offer boosters to people aged over 18 with underlying health conditions, a group comprising at least 50m people according to CDC data. However, the panel rejected endorsing a third jab for those working in jobs with high risk of exposure to Covid, in a 9-6 vote.