Thread by @Surgeon_General

BOOSTERS: Today we announced that we are planning to offer a booster dose of the #COVID19 vaccine to adults 8 months after receiving their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. This plan is pending review by @US_FDA and @CDCgov's ACIP.

Let's walk through the news. /1

*Our vaccines continue to be highly effective in preventing hospitalization and death.

*But we know even highly effective vaccines can become less effective over time.

*We’ve been monitoring data to determine when we may need a booster to extend protection. /2

The data we are now seeing tells us protection against mild and moderate #COVID19 is decreasing over time – even though protection against the worst #COVID19 outcomes remains high.

This is likely because of a combination of normal waning immunity and the force of Delta. /3

We are concerned that this pattern of decline will continue and eventually lead to less protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Boosters may help restore that protection. /4

That's why we're announcing our plan to stay ahead of this virus and offer COVID19 booster shots to fully vaccinated adults 18+. They would be eligible for a booster shot 8 months after receiving the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. This program would begin Sept. 20. /5

For those who got the J&J vaccine: We do expect that boosters will be needed in the future and we are expecting more data in the coming weeks that will help us make recommendations for people who got J&J. /6

The boosters plan prioritizes the vulnerable by ensuring that those who were fully vaccinated earliest will be eligible for a booster first. This includes: health workers, residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities, and seniors. /7

This plan is pending independent @US_FDA evaluation of booster shots followed by review and recommendation by @CDCgov's ACIP.

We're telling you now because transparency & planning are important. We want you to know what we’ve learned from the data, what to expect, and why. /8

This plan was not made lightly. It was created with careful consideration by the top medical and public health experts in @HHSgov. It was informed by data, thoughtful and proactive analysis, and our collective years of experience addressing illness and epidemics. /9

This plan does not change our commitment to reaching those who are not yet vaccinated. We will continue to expand efforts to reach the unvaccinated at home while accelerating our work to get global vaccine supply, building on the 600 million+ doses we’ve already committed. /10

A few additional messages:

First, for all those who are fully vaccinated, you still have a high degree of protection from the worst outcomes of COVID-19: severe disease, hospitalization and death. We are not recommending that everyone go out and get a booster today. /11

Second, today’s announcement does not apply to kids or adolescents under the age of 18. We will continue to review emerging data and work with the FDA and ACIP to determine the best way to continue protecting our kids. /12

For those who are sad, tired, worried, or frustrated: I hear you. We've been on an 18-month roller coaster, and it's daunting to hear that more is required of us before it can end. But vaccines remain our way out. Boosters are how we extend and enhance their protection. /13

Finally: whether you're staying home, back at work, or never left – whether you're grieving new losses or marking anniversaries – know that my public health colleagues & I are here for you. We’ll continue to track data, share our findings, and fight to end this pandemic for good.