US health officials likely to recommend Pfizer and Moderna boosters starting at age 40, source says

US health officials likely to recommend Pfizer and Moderna boosters starting at age 40, source says The US government likely will soon recommend booster shots to people as young as 40 who received either Moderna or Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, according to a source familiar with the plan. By Mike Hayes, <a href="/profiles/meg-wagner">Meg Wagner</a>, <a href="/profiles/melissa-mahtani">Melissa Mahtani</a> and <a href="/profiles/veronica-rocha">Veronica Rocha</a>, CNN CNN

The US government likely will soon recommend booster shots to people as young as 40 who received either Moderna or Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, according to a source familiar with the plan. 

“I believe it will happen,” the source said.

Last month, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized booster shots for people age 65 and older who received their second shot of Pfizer’s vaccine at least six months ago.

For younger people, the booster is authorized only for certain groups, such as those with certain health conditions or those working in jobs that put them at high risk for contracting Covid-19.

Last week, a panel of FDA advisers recommended that Moderna boosters be given with the same rules. However, boosters for Moderna have yet to be granted authorization by the FDA.

The source said there is “growing concern within the FDA” that US data is beginning to show hospitalizations among people under age 65 who have been fully vaccinated.  ....