The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made the emergency authorization announcement Thursday, paving the way for millions of younger adults to get a third dose of the vaccine. The move comes amid the new omicron variant and an uptick in cases across the U.S.
“Vaccination and getting a booster when eligible, along with other preventive measures like masking and avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, remain our most effective methods for fighting COVID-19,” Janet Woodcock, MD, acting FDA commissioner, said in a statement.
The FDA said its decision is backed by a new U.S. study released this week and added the benefits of boosters significantly outweigh the risk of rare side effects.
In fact, two studies published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed patients face a “very low” risk of myocarditis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Read the FDA’s full announcement here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.