A vial of SARS-CoV2 COVID-19 vaccine in a medical research laboratory

Long-term care residents and staff fully vaccinated against COVID-19 don’t need booster shots anytime soon, according to federal health officials. 

The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday issued a joint statement reaffirming the effectiveness of the currently available COVID-19 vaccines. The statement comes after drugmaker Pfizer on Thursday said the effectiveness of its coronavirus vaccine is waning and it’s picking up efforts to develop a booster shot against variants. 

The agencies, however, argued that virtually all current COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are among those who are unvaccinated. 

“The United States is fortunate to have highly effective vaccines that are widely available for those aged 12 and up. People who are fully vaccinated are protected from severe disease and death, including from the variants currently circulating in the country such as Delta,” the agencies said. “People who are not vaccinated remain at risk.”

Federal health officials added that those who are fully vaccinated don’t need a booster shot “at this time” and the entities are currently engaged in a “science-based, rigorous process to consider whether or when a booster might be necessary.” 

“This process takes into account laboratory data, clinical trial data, and cohort data – which can include data from specific pharmaceutical companies, but does not rely on those data exclusively,” the joint statement said. 

Officials added, “We continue to review any new data as it becomes available and will keep the public informed. We are prepared for booster doses if and when the science demonstrates that they are needed.” 

Long-term care residents and staff are expected to be top candidates for a COVID-19 vaccine booster if and when the shots are deemed necessary.