FDA Committee Recommends Moderna Booster Shots

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - The City of Corpus Christi - Nueces County Public Health Department is ready to administer booster shots of Moderna vaccine if approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), which could happen within several days.

Today, a key FDA committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of Moderna booster shots, the first step towards full approval. Residents who have received the Moderna vaccine are urged to stay informed and consult their health care provider as guidance is issued.

Today's nonbinding decision by the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee would bring guidelines for Moderna in line with third shots of the Pfizer /BioNTech vaccine.

Currently, Pfizer/BioNTech booster shots are approved for all Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recipients who completed their initial series at least six months ago and are aged 65 or older, aged 50-64 with certain medical conditions, or meet other risk criteria.

A CDC vaccine advisory committee would need to vote on the FDA's proposal. Once approved by the CDC, Moderna booster shots could begin immediately for eligible Americans who completed their immunizations at least six months ago.

When fully approved by the CDC and FDA, the City of Corpus Christi - Nueces County Public Health Department is prepared to administer the authorized booster shots to those eligible at all vaccination sites.

"The Moderna booster has been deemed important to our Save Our Senior (SOS) recipients by the FDA panel. Our vaccination sites continue to remain open," Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo said. "The Corpus Christi Fire Department also stands ready, and once approved by the CDC, I encourage all homebound senior citizens and residents who qualify for the Moderna booster to call 826-CITY(2489) to registered through our SOS program."

"I encourage those vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine to stay informed and consult their health care provider to see if a booster shot is right for them," Annette Rodriguez, Director of Public Health said. "If approved, Moderna boosters will be available, safe, and accessible to all eligible patrons at all of our vaccination sites."