FDA still undecided about vaccine boosters

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still debating full approval for booster shots.

While both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have shown to have staying power for at least 6 months, evidence is mounting their protection is weakening. 

The wear-off is happening mostly in those who received their shots in December 2020, some of the first vaccines given.

Now, health officials are calling for full FDA approval for a third jab of the vaccines, both of which are two dose series.

News 8 turned to Dr. Christopher Doehring, vice president of medical affairs at Franciscan Health, who spoke about what we can expect when or if a third shot is granted.

“We were actually hoping to hear something as soon as last week,” Doehring said. “That’s not happened. Now we’re hearing in the next week or two, and it’s a little unclear if we’re going to get a six-month recommendation … an eight-month recommendation. I will say we are starting to see more breakthroughs in those who were vaccinated early.”

This group includes health care workers, the elderly and the immunocompromised. 

Doehring says he believes the recommendation will probably be closer on the earlier side meaning six months instead of eight. He also is hopeful the FDA will grant full approval because of both declining vaccine efficacy and as the hypercontagious delta strain continues to blaze the country.