Topline
A new Morning Consult poll shows that eighty percent of Americans have gotten a Covid-19 booster or plan to do so. Federal regulators will meet this week to decide whether to approve Moderna or Johnson & Johnson boosters. However, a majority of Republicans plan to delay getting the booster shot.
A nurse signs a card containing a third dose of the Pfizer Covid-19... [+] vaccine for coronavirus. It was dated August 19, in Pasadena (California). AFP via Getty Images
The Key Facts
A poll of 2,200 adults in the U.S. was conducted between October 9 and 9, with 10% reporting that they had already received the booster shot. This 10% number is more than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 4.9% figure. Only 7% of respondents who had been vaccinated said they were hesitant to get the booster shot. 13% stated that they are unsure. The poll found that 36% of respondents from the GOP were not likely to get the booster. 39% said they would, 39% said no, and 19% said they weren't sure. Only 6% stated they had. The booster shot was more popular with Democrats than it is for other people: 69% of them said they would get it, while 9% said that they have it already. This compares to 11% who don't plan to get it and 11% who are unsure.
Big Number
8.5 million. This is the percentage of Americans who have received a Covid-19 booster vaccine, according to CDC.
What to Watch
Thursday and Friday will see a panel of experts from the Food and Drug Administration meet to discuss whether booster shots for Moderna and Johnson & Johnsons' Covid-19 vaccines should be authorized. The panel was not able to take a decision on Modernas booster after an FDA review. However, the panel was urged by the FDA to approve vaccines only for certain groups as it did with BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine.
Surprising Fact
The CDC reported that 1.5 million people have received booster shots of Moderna vaccine. This vaccine has been approved only for immunocompromised patients. Another 9,085 people have received booster shots of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This vaccine has not been approved for immunocompromised patients. The New York Times reports that this number could be due to people finding pharmacies willing to give an additional shot even though it is not yet approved. Or people could have lied to their status in order to receive another dose.
Important Background
Covid-19 booster shots are becoming a growing concern due to evidence that the vaccines effectiveness has waned over time and they are less protected against infection by the Delta variant. The vaccines are still highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death from Covid-19. Although the White House originally wanted everyone to receive booster shots beginning in September, federal regulators rescinded that decision. Pfizers vaccine was only approved for certain populations. This includes the elderly and people with more potential exposure to Covid-19. However, data shows that booster shots have outperformed initial vaccinations, even though they are only approved for certain groups. Although the Biden administration strongly supports booster shots, the issue remains controversial within the global public-health community. Many researchers and the World Health Organization have opposed booster shots for the general population. They argue that wealthy countries are stealing vaccines that could be used to vaccinate people in low-income countries, where there are limited supplies.
Continue reading
Millions of immunized adults can now get booster shots. 10% of Adults Already Have (Morning Consult).
F.D.A. F.D.A. remains neutral on the need for a moderna booster (New York Times).
The first doses of COVID-19 booster shot in the U.S. have been overtaken (Axios).
Johnson & Johnson Submits Booster Shot Data To FDA For Authorization (Forbes)
CDC Advisors Recommend Pfizer Booster for Seniors and Some People with Underlying Conditions (Forbes).
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