A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Thursday endorsed administering lower-dose booster shots of the Moderna vaccine, but what will that mean for those who got the vaccine and what still needs to happen?

The panel's vote is the first step in a review process that also includes sign-off from the leadership of both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last month, the FDA authorized booster shots of Pfizers vaccine for older Americans and other groups with heightened vulnerability to COVID-19.

Both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson submitted requests for emergency use authorization of their booster shots of the COVID vaccines, though discussions are still ongoing on whether or not they will be authorized.

Here's what you should know:

The health advisers to the FDA debated if millions of Americans who received Moderna vaccinations should get a booster shot -- this time, using half the original dose.

U.S. officials stress that the priority is to get shots to the 66 million unvaccinated Americans who are eligible for immunization -- those most at risk as the extra-contagious delta variant of the coronavirus has burned across the country.

Moderna is seeking FDA clearance for a booster used just like Pfizers: For people 65 and older, or adults with other health problems, jobs or living situations that put them at increased risk of serious coronavirus -- once they are at least six months past their last dose.

Still, the CDC will need to offer more specifics on who should get one.

The first two Moderna shots that everyone receives each contain 100 micrograms of vaccine. But Moderna says a single 50-microgram shot should be enough for a booster. The company said that would trigger fewer uncomfortable shot reactions such as fever and achiness while also leaving more vaccine available for the global supply.

A Moderna study of 344 people found the booster dose spurred a big jump in virus-fighting antibodies, including those able to target the delta mutant.

The final go-ahead is not expected for at least another week.

The FDA will use its advisers recommendations in deciding whether to authorize Moderna boosters. If it does, theres still another hurdle: Next week, a panel convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will offer more specifics on who should get one.

The CDC's advisory committee is next scheduled to meet on Oct. 20 and 21 to discuss the boosters.

If both agencies give the go-ahead, Americans could begin getting J&J and Moderna boosters later this month.

While the FDA and CDC so far have endorsed Pfizer boosters for specific groups only, Biden administration officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, have suggested that extra shots will eventually be recommended for most Americans.

Here's a complete breakdown of who is eligible so far,according to the CDC:

What counts as a qualifying underlying health condition? Here's a list from the CDC:

In addition to the Pfizer authorization, officials have also cleared booster doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for people with weakened immune systems.

According to the CDC, immunocompromised groups include people who have:

The agency notes that "people should talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them."

Follow this link:

What the FDA Panel's Moderna Booster Shot Vote Means and What's Next - NBC Chicago

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