U.S. regulators say transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to better protect them as the delta variant continues to surge.
WE BEGIN WITH SOME BREAKING NEWS OVERNIGHT- LATE LAST NIGHT FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS AUTHORIZED AN ADDITIONAL COVID-19 VACCINATION SHOT FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT. (DANIELLE) A C-D-C COMMITTEE IS MEETING LATER TODAY AND WILL LIKELY GREEN-LIGHT THE MOVE, WHILE ALSO DISCUSSING FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS. THE THIRD DOSE IS FOR THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINE- MAINLY FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS AND OTHERS WHO ARE SIMILARLY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED. THE F-D-A MADE NO MENTION OF JOHNSON AND JOHNSON’S ONE DOSE VACCINE. (ROCHELLE WALENSKY) “AN ADDITIONAL DOSE COULD HELP INCREASE PROTECTION FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AS THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADS. ” (DANIELLE) DR. ANTHONY FAUCI SAYS ANYONE WHO IS NOT IMMUNOCOMPROMISED DOES NOT NEED A ONE RIGHT NOW. BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WOULD LIKELY CHANGE IN THE FUTURE IF THE VACCINE PROTECTION WEAKENS. THE U-S IS AVERAGING MORE THAN HALF A MILLION SHOTS A DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JUNE. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS VACCINATION RATES ARE UP
