(VOVWORLD) - The US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine for Americans 50 and older.
 Children in Medellin, Colombia, are vaccinated against the coronavirus. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
US regulators also authorized an additional booster of the vaccine for people aged 12 and older with compromised immune systems.
People age 12 and older with weakened immune systems are eligible for a Pfizer dose, and those 18 and older with the same condition are eligible for Moderna.
It is recommended that individuals who had a third dose at least four months ago get another booster to increase their protection against severe symptoms and hospitalization.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the BA.2 Omicron sub-variant is dominant because of its transmissibility. BA.2 accounted for 54.9% of COVID-19 infections as of March 26, up 39% from the previous week. The BA.2 variant, also known as the “stealth” variant, is thought to be 30-50% more contagious than the BA.1 variant.
According to worldometers.info, 485 million COVID-19 cases and 6.1 million deaths had been recorded worldwide as of Wednesday noon. The US has been hit the hardest, followed by India and Brazil.