Moderna seeks green light from FDA on fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot

Moderna is asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to give the green light for another booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine.

A press release noted that Moderna is seeking "an amendment to the emergency use authorization (EUA) to allow for a fourth dose of its COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273) in adults 18 years of age and older who have received an initial booster of any of the authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines."

"The request to include adults over 18 years of age was made to provide flexibility for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and healthcare providers to determine the appropriate use of an additional booster dose of mRNA-1273, including for those at higher risk of COVID-19 due to age or comorbidities," the company noted.

Pfizer and BioNTech recently announced that they submitted an application to the FDA seeking emergency use authorization for another COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for individuals 65 and older.

Currently, the protocol for most people who get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines is to receive two shots for their primary series and one booster shot. But the CDC indicates that immunocompromised individuals ages 12 and older should get three shots for their primary series, plus a booster shot. The Moderna vaccine is currently only cleared for use in adults.

The COVID-19 vaccine shots could become a yearly experience. Recently, when Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla was asked whether he thinks people will need to prepare to get the shot annually, he replied, "I think so."

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on “Face the Nation” | Full interviewyoutu.be