Oct 4, 2021 - Health

EU drug regulator recommends Pfizer booster for people 18 and older

Erin Doherty

Nieves Cabo prepares to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot in the residence Santiago Puerta del Camino, on September 21, 2021 in Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Galicia, — Nieves Cabo prepares to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 booster shot in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, Sept. 21. Photo: Cesar Arxina/Europa Press via Getty Images

The European Union's drug watchdog on Monday endorsed a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people 18 and older.

Driving the news: The European Medicines Agency said booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "may be considered at least 6 months after the second dose for people aged 18 years and older," per a press release from the agency.

The agency also recommended a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine for "people with severely weakened immune systems, at least 28 days after their second dose."
The European Medicines Agency's recommendations will now go to health authorities in the 27 European Union member states, AP reports.

The big picture: The announcement comes after the CDC last month recommended Pfizer booster shots for individuals 65 years and older and at high risk of severe COVID-19.

Go deeper: CDC director approves Pfizer boosters, adds eligibility for high-risk workers

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EU drug regulator recommends Pfizer booster for people 18 and older

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