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US federal health officials said vaccinated Americans will need to get booster shots 8 months after receiving their 2^nd dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. It would maximize its protection against the virus and enhance its durability. The nation’s leading public health and medical experts from the DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) announced a joint statement. The statement says the Biden administration is prepared to start offering the boosters on 20^th September 2021 and starting 8 months after Americans received their 2^nd doses of Pfizer or Moderna’s 2-shot vaccines. The White House Covid-19 response coordinator, Jeff Zients said, “The plan is for the rule to be simple: Get your booster shot 8 months after you got your second shot”.

Americans who were first to get vaccinated against Covid-19 will likely be eligible for a booster late next month. It includes health care providers, nursing home residents, and elderly American citizens. The Biden administration will also launch efforts to deliver boosters directly to residents of long-term care facilities. The plan is subject to approval from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of CDC, and the FDA director are among the group of health experts recommending the third dose. They said, “We are starting to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease in association with the dominance of the Delta variant”.

The statement added, “The current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead based on our latest assessment, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout. For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability”. The data clearly indicates that protection against Covid-19 infection begins to decline over time after the initial doses of the vaccines. Federal health officials expect a booster will also be needed for Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine. The health officials said, “Our top priority remains to stay ahead of the virus and protecting the American people from Covid-19 with safe, effective, and long-lasting vaccines especially in the context of a constantly changing virus and epidemiologic landscape”.