A Food and Drug Administration panel Friday unanimously approved booster shots of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people over the age of 65 and anyone over 16 who is at high risk of developing a severe infection from the virus. In a separate poll — not a formal vote — the panel recommended the at-risk group should include healthcare workers and anyone at high-risk for occupational exposure to the virus.
Earlier Friday, the panel voted overwhelmingly against booster shots for anyone over the age of 16. That decision comes as a disappointment to the Biden administration, which had been pushing to get boosters into the arms of the broader public by next week.
The decision by the panel now heads to FDA’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which will make possible tweaks to the panel’s recommendation.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
