FDA authorizes boosters for Moderna and J&J, says mixing brands is fine

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Here’s some great news for people who got the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines. The FDA has now authorized booster shots for those 18 and older who received the Moderna vaccine, given at least six months after the last dose, and Johnson and Johnson, given two months after the single dose. The J&J booster shot has received an emergency use authorization for everyone ages 18 and older. Moderna boosters, similar to the existing guidelines for Pfizer boosters, are recommended for people 65 and older and those 18 and older at increased risk. The FDA has also stated that mixing and matching vaccinations is fine. The CDC is convening today to go over the data and state their recommendations. Here’s more, from CNN:

The US Food and Drug Administration authorized booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines made by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Wednesday and also said any of the three authorized vaccines could be used as a booster in a “mix and match” approach.

But it left in place a complex formula for who should get get boosters and when, with officials saying they may simplify the framework as more safety data comes in.

Now vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consider the FDA’s authorization, and offer their own advice. If CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signs off, people could start getting Moderna and J&J boosters within days.

The FDA gave emergency use authorization for a half dose of Moderna’s vaccine as a booster for people fully vaccinated at least six months ago who are also at least 65, or who are at least 18 and at high risk of severe Covid-19 or have frequent institutional or occupational exposure to the virus.

It also authorized booster doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine for anyone who got that vaccine, so those 18 and older, at least two months ago.

And it said any of the three authorized vaccines could be used to boost. Pfizer already has authorization for booster shots for its vaccine for people vaccinated at least six months ago — with the same restrictions as those for Moderna’s vaccine: those 65 and older and those with a higher risk of severe disease.

[From CNN]

I know two people who have already had Moderna boosters, they did not mix and match. It was harder for them to find, but it’s been possible before now, just not as accessible as the Pfizer boosters. I don’t have a lot of hope that the CDC won’t bungle this, but fingers crossed it will work out OK and they’ll back the FDA’s findings. They’re reviewing the data and making the best decision based on the science. (Except when they told us to take off the masks if we were vaccinated. I’m still salty about that.) We can’t control the people who still refuse to be vaccinated, but we can make sure that we’re protected and that our loved ones are protected as the virus mutates and spreads. Also I’m excited about the possibility of mixing vaccinations. Studies have shown it’s safe, effective and may produce a better immune response.

Having lived through this pandemic, I’m OK with getting boosters as often as they’re recommended. I’m so grateful to the scientists, doctors and technicians who worked to bring the vaccines to market. It’s truly incredible how fast they came out and how effective they are. It’s also unbelievable that so many people refuse to get vaccinated.

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17 Responses to “FDA authorizes boosters for Moderna and J&J, says mixing brands is fine”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    I mean, I get a flu vaccine every year, other vaccines need to be updated after a certain amount of time (like TDAP), so let’s make COVID something else that people may need to get regularly – once a year maybe after the first booster or something.

    Boosters for everyone!

  2. atorontogal says:

    I have Phizer and Moderna. It was common here in Canada to get 2 different shots as the focus was just to get people vaccinated.

    • Lori says:

      A lot of us in Alberta got the Astra Zeneca first and then Pfizer second. Just got a second Pfizer (as a booster for international travel). All data is showing that the AZ then MRNA has the best protection 🙂

  3. Becks1 says:

    SORRY. Lol. I should have known that would get removed.

  4. rea says:

    I was wondering about vaccine mixing. Its good to know its possible to get another vacine but I will stick with the original one I got. Where I live people did not believe in Covid until a co-worker died and another one nearly died. My co-workers originally said it was like the flu and were pissed things were shutting down now they recognize its more than a flu but are still anti mask saying it offers no protection.

  5. Tiffany says:

    It’s been 8 months since my second shot and I don’t have any true health risk.

    But I am Forty *coughcoughcoughcough*….
    Forty*coughcoughcoughcough*.

    Let me try again. Forty*coughcoughcough*.

    I still need to get my flu shot and I am thinking about the booster.

    I am fortunate that I have a job that doesn’t have me exposed so I can wait to find a Moderna booster, but on the other hand, people still aren’t taking this seriously and I wanna be protected.

  6. Lala11_7 says:

    Since our government has been laxed at keeping records regarding who got what vaccination & when…I exploited that and got 2 shots of Pfizer last month after getting 2 shots of Moderna in March…I’m immunocompromised & have to go to hospitals & Healthcare facilities as if it were my job and I’m in a area that’s red in a blue state…so I KNOW a lot of the Healthcare workers I’m surrounded by aren’t vaccinated…and since both Pfizer & Moderna are both mRNA vaccinations…they’re more similar than not in their construction so I wasn’t afraid of mixing them…I got my flu shot too as the flu is OFF THE CHAIN in my area & has been ALL summer!

    • Tiffany says:

      Since you have gotten two different shots.

      How did you feel Lala?

      Because if I have to get a Pfizer booster, I will.

      • Lala11_7 says:

        @Tiffany: Morning Glory! Neither sequence of shots bothered me in the LEAST…not even a sore arm…it wasn’t like that when I got my Shingles vaccination last January…I BARELY made it back to my car from the CVS counter after the 1st shot and got a mild case of Shingles after the 2nd shot😡😛

      • H says:

        I got my Pfizer booster 2 weeks ago on a Friday. The second Pfizer shot knocked me on my butt and the third one did also. The pharmacist said that’s good as it means my immune system is working with the vaccine.

        I’m intrigued about mixing and matching. Maybe next time?

  7. Aang says:

    I got my Pfizer booster last Friday. I work at a college with no vaccine mandate amd couldn’t get the booster fast enough. I was tired for a couple days then back to normal. I’m so glad the vaccines are available and so thankful to the scientists that make it possible.

  8. Catwoman says:

    Former health care worker of 32 years here.There is a misconception that masks are worn to protect the wearer. The opposite is actually true. Masks are worn to prevent the wear from infecting others with whatever they may have. If you think about it, who is wearing a mask in the operating room? It’s not the patient being operated on. It’s the doctors and nurses and other staff that wear them. It’s precisely the opposite of who should be wearing masks in this country they actually are.

    • Chantal says:

      @Catwoman. I wish your comment was widely disseminated and repeatedly! Reading comprehension and active listening skills are seriously lacking in the US!

  9. Anne Call says:

    I’m in the middle of arguing with crazy right wing anti vaxxers on Twitter and crazy new agey moms on Instagram who don’t want to give their precious children a covid vaccine (thanks Erin Foster!). I happened to find a chart of world wide vaccination rates-almost 7 billion shots have been given out and most western countries, where vaccines have been readily available, are now at a much higher immunization rate then the US. It’s embarrassing to be an American these days.

  10. Lala11_7 says:

    I have a former co-worker who recently almost DIED of Covid …was hospitalized and EVERYTHING…her CHILD got Covid & she STILL won’t get vaxxed!!! She also can’t wait to vote for Trump again…so THAT tells you ALL you need to know about THAT😡 That’s why my former company pretty much closed down their offices in that GORJUS corporate park they were in…they now only have 1 floor instead of 3…they even gave up the call center that was only 3 years old with EVERYONE working home…The executives ALREADY knew the hell they would be dealing with regarding the staff & vaccinations and tapped out early!

  11. Sminty says:

    I am in Canada, where we have had mixing and matching for some time. I had AstraZenica (which is not available in the US) followed by Moderna. Studies have shown that this combo is even slightly more effective than two mRNA vaccines, which are also excellent. I feel like I kind of won the vaccine lottery with the level of protection AZ/Moderna provides. I don’t know if I can post links here, but I will try, this is a link to a CBC piece about this topic. Look at the graph showing the comparison of two of the same vs mixed. People at high risk (immunocompromised, cancer treatment, etc.) are now getting a third booster shot. We will all be getting those at some point. Looking like February is when I will. The period between June when I got the second shot, and February, is about the right length of time to get the boosters, as studies are beginning to show. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canada-vaccine-effectiveness-data-delayed-doses-mixing-matching-covid-19-vaccines-1.6205993