Third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are likely to arrive past September

DORAL, FL – Third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive later than expected, especially the Moderna vaccine, according to a report from AP. 

The initial plan of the U.S. administration was to make all booster vaccines available by September 20 after getting approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. 

However, the path to approve Moderna’s third dose is not clear yet as the data provided was considered “inadequate” according to the news agency. This led the FDA to request additional data that may delay the authorization of the booster for October. 

Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, on the other hand, is much more behind in the reviewing process as the data is still not available and it won’t be for at least a few months. 

The only company offering third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that may be ahead of the game is Pfizer that is still expected to be approved by Sept. 20 after an evaluation of the data to be conducted on Sept. 17.

“We are awaiting a full review and approval by the FDA and a recommendation by the ACIP,” said White House spokesman Chris Meagher, referencing the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “When that approval and recommendation are made, we will be ready to implement the plan our nation’s top doctors developed so that we are staying ahead of this virus.”

These boosters are now crucial according to experts to tame the delta variant while only someone who has the third dose can be considered to be fully vaccinated against the virus. 

“From my own experience as an immunologist, I would not at all be surprised that the adequate, full regimen for vaccination will likely be three doses,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, said.

According to the report, most of the 206 million Americans  vaccinated with the first two doses against COVID-19 received the Pfizer shot, while 80 million received the Moderna vaccine, says CDC data.

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