Topline
President Joe Biden was given a Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine booster shot Monday. He encouraged more Americans to get vaccinated after the federal government approved booster shots for Americans over 65 last week.
During an event on the White House campus, President Joe Biden is given a Covid-19 booster shot. [+] Monday. ASSOCIATED PRS
The Key Facts
Biden stated that boosters are helpful in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. However, he said that the most important thing for people is to get their first two doses of vaccine. Biden stated that 77% of Americans have received at least one coronavirus vaccination dose. He also said that First Lady Jill Biden will be getting a booster shot. Biden, at 78 years old, is eligible for a booster shot due to his age.
Important Background
Biden was given his first dose of Pfizer vaccine in December 2020 and his second dose in January 2019. The Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer booster shots last week for patients over 65 years old, those with underlying conditions such as diabetes and obesity, and workers who could be more susceptible to the virus. According to the FDA, boosters should be administered no later than six months following a person's second dose of coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer had been pursuing booster shots for the general public, but the FDA did not approve them. This was after an advisory panel concluded that there was not enough evidence. Later that week, the Centers for Disease Control approved the booster as safe-effective.
Tangent
Forbes reached out to former President Donald Trump's representatives for comment, but Trump stated earlier this month that he didn't plan on getting a booster shot. From that perspective, I feel like Im in great shape, Trump said to the newspaper. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump quietly received vaccines in January before they left the White House.
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Where can you get a Covid-19 booster shot? (Forbes)
FDA Approves Pfizer Covid Booster shots for Seniors and High-Risk Patients, but Not For All Americans (Forbes).
