American Experts are Looking at Booster Shots Janssen Vaccine

Independent experts who advise the American health service FDA consider whether Americans who have been vaccinated with the corona vaccine from the Dutch Janssen should be eligible for a booster shot. That will also be voted on.

The outcome of that vote is not binding, but the advice of the health experts does weigh heavily. The FDA must ultimately decide whether to adopt the recommendation. This usually happens within a few days.

Several authorities are involved in the discussion about booster shots. Advisors to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are expected to discuss the FDA’s final decision next week. Those independent experts will then vote again on their recommendations.

If booster shots are approved, the CDC will issue guidelines on which groups should qualify for such an additional shot. According to American media, it will take at least a week before a final recommendation is made. States must then take it over.

In the United States, about 187 million people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, about 15 million of whom have received the Janssen vaccine. It currently gives people a single shot, while other vaccines require two doses before they are fully vaccinated.

Janssen himself reported at the end of September, based on his own research, that a second shot of the vaccine significantly increases the effectiveness. After two shots, 94 percent would be protected against “moderate to severe” disease. American research later showed that a booster from Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech would lead to a stronger immune response.