The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup has determined that anyone 18 and older who wants a COVID booster should be eligible to get one. On Saturday, Nov. 20, the workgroup decided that approval by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were the final things they needed to get on board with opening up boosters to all adults.
The workgroup was begun in California and includes medical doctors from California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, as well as a member of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Their mission is to stay informed about vaccine candidate trials and safety and efficacy statistics, then to make value-added recommendations to state governments on vaccine implementation.
While the booster is available to all adults, it is most specifically recommended for those 50 and older. People who received the Moderna or Pfizer two-dose regimen need to wait until at least six months after their second vaccine. People who received the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine must wait at least two months.
The Oregon Health Authority is expected to inform all vaccine providers to allow boosters beginning immediately.
By Sally K Lehman
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