Thread by @ASlavitt

BREAKING: FDA approves Pfizer vaccine booster for people over 65 and those at risk of serious illness.

More here in a minute.

1/

First, you can listen to FDA Commissioner explain how she considered this decision on @inthebubblepod. 2/

https://twitter.com/inthebubblepod/status/1440295062173224962

What will happen next is Thursday the CDC advisory committee tomorrow will meet to make specific recommendations on how to implement this approval. Then Th or Friday, Dr Walensky will make a final decision.

They will do a few things. 3/

1-Who will qualify— likely health care workers, people with illnesses, and other risk factors— for people of any age. Anticipate a wide berth.
2- what proof if any will be required
3- can people with J&J and Moderna get a Pfizer boost? 4/

On that question, unless prohibited, any doctor should be able to prescribe a Pfizer shot for a Modernan or J&Jer as a backstop if they feel waiting the weeks until those are approved is too big a risk. 5/

I made the case here that the FDA would be justified in now or at some point reducing the age to 40 and above.

They didn’t. What they did do is create a hole a mile wide for people 6 months out to get vaccinated. 6/

https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1439267006105075715

Today on my podcast is a toolkit episode that explains how within a CVS or anywhere else you can get a booster, what they look for, and what they don’t if you want one.

The other guest also answers whether you should want one from a scientific perspective.
7/

https://twitter.com/inthebubblepod/status/1440647236271050761

Including the key mix-match questions for Pfiderna and J&Pf.

(I made that up. Clever)

I spent a bunch of time this week trying to anticipate all the booster questions so hopefully all those things help. 8/