ABC News has seen a briefing document from the CDC that estimates at least one million people have had covid-19 booster shots. This number could be higher as the document does not include people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The document is not publically available. A spokesperson for the CDC stated in an email to Gizmodo that they do not comment on leaks.AdvertisementA person is considered fully vaccinated in the United States if they have received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson covid-19 or two doses each of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Some people are getting more vaccines than others, on advice from their doctor or by their own initiative. Last month, Camille Kotton of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices told the Washington Post that many have decided to take matters into their own hands, and are obtaining additional vaccines as they wish.STAT, a health policy outlet, reported that vaccine sites would need to verify patients' health records in order to determine if they are eligible for an additional dose. Hospitals will also have to establish their policies regarding who might be given extra doses. They will be covered by insurance companies.Scientists claim that there is not enough data yet to prove that boosters are needed, even for those with immunocompromised patients, who are most at risk from covid-19 infection. Although the Delta variant is more likely to infect vaccinated people than other strains, the current vaccine schedule appears to provide strong protection against serious illness or death. Moderna and Pfizer suggested that some people might need additional doses to boost their immunity by the fall or winter. However, the World Health Organization demanded a moratorium of boosters up to September. This is because it encourages rich countries to stockpile vaccines, while others have not even given out their first doses. 23 countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, have less than 1% who have been fully vaccinated. This number is zero in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo.Currently, Germany, Israel, and Britain have all approved extra shots for certain populations at risk. The San Francisco Department of Public Health has also authorized what they call supplemental doses of mRNA vaccination for those who have received a single Johnson & Johnson vaccine.Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, stated that the agency is just beginning to collect data about physician-approved booster shots in a White House briefing. Gizmodo was informed by an FDA spokesperson that they are closely tracking data from studies that administer additional COVID-19 vaccines to immunocompromised patients.
