FDA Vaccine Adviser: Most Americans Don’t Need Another COVID-19 Booster

Americans Don’t Need ​Another COVID-19 Booster, Says Vaccine Adviser

A longtime vaccine adviser to the ​Food​ and Drug Administration (FDA) said most Americans don’t need‍ another COVID-19 booster as the Biden administration prepares to⁤ push‌ another round of shots.

Dr. Paul Offit, who advises the FDA ⁤on various ‍types of vaccines, ⁢told the Daily Mail⁤ that the upcoming‍ updated COVID-19 boosters ‍that are meant to target new​ variants don’t need to be taken by middle-aged and younger⁣ Americans without underlying health conditions.

“Specifically, those over 75 years of age, those who have ‍health problems that put⁤ them at higher risk of severe disease ‍(such as obesity, chronic lung disease, chronic heart⁢ disease and diabetes, among​ others) [and] those‌ who ‌are immune-compromised and⁣ those who are pregnant,” Dr. Offit said,​ listing some⁤ of the conditions ​that he thinks warrant ⁣the newest COVID-19 ⁣booster.

Low-Risk, ⁤Low-Reward⁤ Strategy

It’s‌ an ‌argument he’s​ made before, when in​ an​ article in a medical journal​ in February ⁣2023 he said that asking⁤ young, healthy people ‌to get boosted with⁣ a variant-specific booster is⁢ pointless.

“I believe we ⁤should stop trying to prevent all symptomatic infections in healthy, young⁢ people by ‍boosting them with vaccines⁣ containing mRNA from strains ‌that might disappear a few ⁣months later,” Dr.‍ Offit wrote in the paper.

COVID-19 Alarm

Dr. ​Offit’s remarks come amid warnings from government and health officials about a ⁢new COVID-19 variant circulating,⁣ while President Joe‍ Biden said last week ⁣that all⁤ Americans would ⁣likely‍ be ‌advised⁢ to get another booster.

Overall in the‍ United States, there’s been a 15.7 percent‌ rise in ⁣hospital ‌admissions due to COVID-19​ in the most recent⁤ week, according to‌ data from the Centers for Disease Control and⁣ Prevention (CDC).⁢ Over the same period, there’s been‌ a 10.5 percent increase​ in COVID-19 deaths while test ⁣positivity is down 0.6 percent, per‌ the CDC.

Despite‍ a rise in some COVID-19 indicators, the numbers are much lower than a year ago. Still, ‍some institutions have started to adopt mask ‍mandates, sparking pushback in some circles and a “we‍ will not comply” ⁣trend on social ⁣media.

For instance, former ‍President Donald Trump recently accused “left-wing⁢ lunatics” of ⁣fear-mongering about new COVID-19 variants in order to justify the reintroduction of lockdown policies and other mandates—all in a bid ⁤to rig the 2024 election.

“We will ⁢not shut down our schools. We will not accept your lockdowns. We will not abide by ⁣your mask‌ mandates,‌ and we will‍ not tolerate your vaccine mandates,” the former president⁢ said in a video posted on Truth Social.

Also, President Trump recently told former Michigan gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon in ​a⁢ conversation on her⁤ podcast that pharmaceutical companies have ⁣an ⁣”obligation to be ⁢honest” about⁣ vaccine ⁤side effects and should disclose all relevant data on vaccine harms.

During their conversation, Ms. ⁤Dixon asked about President Biden’s announcement to fund a new COVID-19 vaccine.

“He wants​ everyone to get this vaccine,” Ms. Dixon said. “And ⁢we’re hearing​ about‍ a lot of complaints ⁢from vaccine injured. To say a lot is an understatement.”

“Numerous​ pharmaceutical companies have refused to release ‌their data on vaccine side effects,”⁢ she continued. “But we’ve seen cases of myocarditis, blood clots, ‍and ‌heart attacks; they’re⁣ all increasing. The⁣ research has never been released.”

She then asked if President Trump ⁣would “demand⁣ that the v