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Syringe with corona vaccine (symbolic image)
Photo: Jae C. Hong / AP
A panel of experts from the US FDA has spoken out against third-party corona vaccinations for all people aged 16 and over.
The members of the independent vaccination commission voted on Friday against a general booster vaccination with the vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer.
Among other things, they referred to possible side effects in younger people.
A second vote on a booster vaccination for older people is likely to follow.
Leading health officials in the government of US President Joe Biden announced in mid-August that all US citizens would be offered a booster vaccination from September 20.
As a result, however, doubts about the project arose.
While some experts advocate booster vaccination, others consider it inappropriate at this time.
A detailed analysis of the pros and cons can be found here: How useful is a third vaccination?
Proponents of a third-party vaccination argue that an additional vaccination dose increases protection against infection with the coronavirus.
This applies in particular in view of the spread of the delta variant and a protective effect of the vaccine which diminishes over time.
Opponents of a booster vaccination, on the other hand, say that two doses of the vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna would already offer sufficient protection.
They also argue that the focus should be on vaccinating unvaccinated people - in the US, but also in developing countries where there is a shortage of vaccines.
The FDA had already approved a third dose of corona vaccine for people with a weakened immune system in August.
The head of the world's largest vaccine manufacturer has criticized corona booster vaccinations in view of the shortage of vaccines in poor countries.
"It is unethical to give someone three doses when others in certain countries and populations have not even received two doses," said Adar Poonawalla, executive director of the Serum Institute of India (SII) on Friday.
Israel was the first country to start offering a booster vaccination to every citizen, and several European countries are offering booster vaccinations for particularly vulnerable groups.
The supply of vaccines to poorer countries, however, is still stalling; millions of people there have not even received their first vaccination.
oka / AFP
