Approval Likely For Mix And Match Booster Shot Approach

As the campaign to get people their booster shots begins, the U.S. is expected to approve a mix-and-match approach. This means whether a person received their initial COVID-19 jab from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer, they can get a booster through any of the three manufacturers.

The Food and Drug Administration expects to announce the news soon but cannot publicly do so yet, according to a U.S. health official who spoke to the Associated Press. The FDA guidance is expected to state that there is a preference of sticking with the same manufacturer, but if receiving a shot from one over the other is easier due to access, it is fine to do so.

This comes after last week's news that the FDA recommended Moderna and J&J COVID-19 booster shots for Americans who got their first dose. The U.S. authorized Pfizer booster shots last month for certain populations. Moderna and J&J are expected to be officially authorized this week. The New York Times reports that Moderna and J&J boosters will be approved Wednesday evening.

However, in the U.S. there is not yet a consensus on the combining of different shots.

There is still an ethical debate to be had about the necessity of booster shots instead of focusing on getting vaccines into the arms of others around the world. A lot of countries still cannot get a majority of their populations vaccinated. The World Health Organization called for a moratorium on boosters at least until the end of the year, according to CNBC. South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania have all administered a single vaccine dose to 50% of their populations, but by comparison, only 7% of the population of Africa has received a dose.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously said, "It is unjust and also unfair because we will not stop the pandemic by ignoring a whole continent, and the continent that doesn't have any manufacturing capacity of other means."