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