A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) advisory panel voted unanimously to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for the most vulnerable Americans on Friday.

All 11 members of the committee approved the agency recommending “an additional dose” of only mRNA Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines for those with compromised immune systems.

The advice would apply to all those age 12 and over who are “moderately or severely” immunocompromised, including people who have had solid organ transplants.

The group concluded that “the desirable consequences clearly outweighed the undesirable consequences,” especially with the devastation caused by the Delta variant.

Experts presenting at the ACIP meeting conceded that “There are no safety studies of an additional mRNA dose in immunocompromised adolescents” and “No efficacy or effectiveness studies of COVID-19 prevention following 3rd dose” according to slides presented.

Jefferey Jaxen

Jefferey Jaxen is a health journalist and featured in his weekly segment, ’The Jaxen Report’, on The HighWire. As an investigative journalist, researcher, and compelling writer, Jefferey serves as Lead editor of The HighWire News and Opinion Team.

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