International Desk :
President Joe Biden received a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine Monday, pushing all eligible Americans to do the same, reports the Politico.
But even with the rollout of booster shots, which were approved by U.S. regulators last week for people older than 65 and other certain high-risk adult populations, the president said his administration’s top priority would be getting shots into the arms of Americans who have not yet been vaccinated.
“The bottom line is you’re fully vaccinated and highly protected now from severe illness, even if you get Covid-19, you’re safe and we’re going to do everything we can to keep it that way with the boosters,” the 78-year-old Biden said.
Biden received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 21, 2020, and his second dose on Jan. 11, both on live television. The president’s booster dose was administered as the White House press pool observed and asked questions, creating an impromptu press conference as Biden rolled up his sleeve.
Individuals who want to receive a booster must have had their second shot at least six months ago. Only those who received the Pfizer vaccine are currently eligible for boosters, but Moderna has asked the FDA to approve its booster shot and Johnson & Johnson has begun submitting data on a booster as well.
“We know that to beat this pandemic and to save lives, to keep our children safe, our schools open, our economy going, we need to get folks vaccinated,” Biden said. “So please, please do the right thing. Please get the shots and it can save your life.” In August, the Biden administration announced a plan to roll out booster shots to all Americans starting Sept. 20, a deadline that was contingent on the approval of FDA advisers and the recommendation of the CDC advisory committee.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine advisory committee recommended booster shots for people age 65 and older, those in long-term care facilities and people 50 and older with underlying health issues. The FDA’s advisory committee, in its own decision, approved boosters for people ages 65 and up, individuals between the age of 18 and 64 with underlying health conditions and people between the age of 18 and 64 whose ” frequent institutional or occupational exposure” to Covid-19 puts them at high risk for the virus. This last category includes health care workers, teachers, grocery store workers and more.
CDC director Rochelle Walensky ultimately aligned with the FDA’s recommendation over that of her own center’s advisory panel.
“As CDC director, it’s my job to recognize where actions can have the greatest impact. In a pandemic, we most often take steps with the intention to do the greatest good, even in an uncertain environment. And that is what I’m doing with these recommendations,” Walensky said at a White House briefing Friday.
