iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
CarbonSifr's innovative approach seeks to integrate climate solutions into everyday operations for businesses and individuals
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Covid-19: US authorises fourth vaccine shot for over 50s
Authorities warn of possible new wave of virus driven by the BA.2 variant
Reuters
The United States Tuesday authorised a fourth dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna Covid-19 vaccines for people 50 and older, as authorities warn of a possible new wave driven by the BA.2 variant.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement it had based its decision on emerging evidence that an additional booster, given four months after the last, improved protection against severe Covid and wasn't associated with new safety concerns.
Additionally, people with immune compromising conditions who have already received four shots, with their latest at least four months ago, are now eligible for a fifth dose.
That includes people living with certain organ transplants.
The Pfizer vaccine will be available to immune compromised people aged 12 and over, while the Moderna vaccine will be available to those 18 and up.
"Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from Covid-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals," senior FDA scientist Peter Marks said, explaining the decision.
The FDA said data from Israel, which had studied the effects of a fourth dose given four months after the third on 700,000 people, found the extra shot was safe.
It also cited data from a study of 154 health workers whose antibody levels, including against the Delta and Omicron variants, were restored to high levels two weeks after their fourth doses.
ALSO READ:
A study published by Israeli researchers in the New England Journal of Medicine this month indicated that three doses of current generation mRNA vaccines have hit a ceiling in terms of the immune response generated.
In other words, while three doses brings immunity levels to new heights, the fourth dose restores antibody levels to where they previously were shortly after the third.
Experts have said the benefits to younger, healthy people aren't yet clear, and say new vaccines will likely need to be developed as the virus continues to mutate.
More news from
Rising temperatures cause a fuel shortfall for generation plants, says power minister
In the last week, bullion attempted to recover, briefly reaching $1,983, but quickly reversed course and retreated heading into the weekend
Forex traders said the Indian rupee opened weak on the rise in oil prices and the dollar index
AC Milan's Swedish forward revealed his decision to quit the game during an on-pitch ceremony following the club's 3-1 win over Verona
His departure from Qatar-owned Paris-Saint Germain was confirmed on Saturday and he was jeered by a section of the club's fans in his final appearance, a 3-2 defeat by Clermont
The horrific collision and derailment, involving two passenger trains and a goods train, claimed the lives of 275 passengers and left over 1,000 injured
The sea will be slight in the Arabian Gulf and in Oman Sea