EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine booster

European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the booster doses of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 18 and above on October 4, 2021.

Key Facts

• This approval given as data for the vaccine showed a rise in antibody levels when a booster shot was administered to the people aged 18 to 55, approximately six months after the second dose.
• Thus, the agency has recommended to administer booster doses after six months of second dose.
• It also recommended for an extra dose of Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people with severely weakened immune systems.
• Extra dose of these vaccines boosts the ability, of organ transplant patients with weakened immune systems, of producing antibodies against the SARS-cov-2 virus.
• As per EMA, extra dose will be given at least 28 days after second dose to the severely immune-compromised people.