U.S. PANEL MEETS TO DISCUSS, VOTE ON NEED FOR PFIZER VACCINE BOOSTER SHOTS

WASHINGTON: The Joe Biden administration’s embattled plan to dispense Covid-19 booster shots to most Americans faced its first major hurdle on Friday as a government advisory panel met to decide whether to endorse extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine. A Pfizer study of 44,000 people showed effectiveness against symptomatic Covid-19 was 96% two months after the second dose, but had dropped to 84% by around six months.

Scientists inside and outside the government have been divided in recent days over the need for boosters and who should get them, and the World Health Organization has strongly objected to rich nations giving a third round of shots when poor countries don’t have enough vaccine for their first.

The experts were scheduled to vote on one basic question - does the evidence show that a Pfizer booster would be safe and effective for people 16 and older? In the event of a ‘yes’ vote, the FDA is expected to quickly approve boosters for Pfizer’s shot.

Bolsonaro, unvaccinated, set to attend UN summit

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro, who has decided not to be vaccinated, said on Thursday he will attend next week’s United Nations conclave in New York, effectively defying NYC authorities who recently announced proof-of-vaccination requirements for all attending leaders and diplomats.

In another development, the World Health Organization said clinical trials are under way to evaluate eight nasal spray vaccines that target Covid-19.

The most advanced effort so far by China’s Xiamen University, the University of Hong Kong and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy has completed phase 2 trials.