<p>The United States on Thursday authorised an extra dose of Covid vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the country struggles to thwart the Delta variant.</p>.<p>Emergency use authorisation for a third injection of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines was granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulator.</p>.<p>"The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease," said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a statement.</p>.<p>The FDA said the additional dose was for solid organ transplant recipients or those with equivalent weakened immune systems.</p>.<p>US health authorities had been debating whether a third dose may be required, following a similar move by Israel.</p>.<p>Some United States media reports suggest that one million Americans may have had unauthorised third doses in an attempt to increase protection against Covid.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>"Individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine at this time," Woodcook said.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the United States rejected an appeal from the World Health Organization for a moratorium on booster shots to help ease the drastic inequity in dose distribution between rich and poor nations.</p>.<p>More than 619,000 people have died in the United States from Covid-19, with case numbers increasing sharply in recent months due to the spread of the Delta variant.</p>.<p>The country's rapid vaccination program has slowed particularly in politically conservative regions in the South and Midwest, and among younger people, those with lower income and racial minorities.</p>.<p>"Right now at this moment, other than the immune compromised, we're not going to be giving boosters to people," top US Covid advisor Anthony Fauci told NBC on Thursday.</p>.<p>"But we will be following them very carefully, and if they do need it, we'll be ready to give it to them... inevitably there will be a time when we will have to give boosts."</p>.<p>Covid-19 vaccines are free and widely available in the United States, yet only half the population is fully vaccinated.</p>.<p>President Joe Biden announced in July that all federal employees must attest to being vaccinated or face tough restrictions such as regular testing amid a surge in hospitalisations.</p>.<p>Propelled by the highly contagious Delta variant, coronavirus infections have soared to a daily average of more than 100,000, a level not seen since the winter surge.</p>
<p>The United States on Thursday authorised an extra dose of Covid vaccine for people with weakened immune systems, as the country struggles to thwart the Delta variant.</p>.<p>Emergency use authorisation for a third injection of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines was granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulator.</p>.<p>"The country has entered yet another wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FDA is especially cognizant that immunocompromised people are particularly at risk for severe disease," said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a statement.</p>.<p>The FDA said the additional dose was for solid organ transplant recipients or those with equivalent weakened immune systems.</p>.<p>US health authorities had been debating whether a third dose may be required, following a similar move by Israel.</p>.<p>Some United States media reports suggest that one million Americans may have had unauthorised third doses in an attempt to increase protection against Covid.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank"><strong>CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</strong></a></p>.<p>"Individuals who are fully vaccinated are adequately protected and do not need an additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine at this time," Woodcook said.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the United States rejected an appeal from the World Health Organization for a moratorium on booster shots to help ease the drastic inequity in dose distribution between rich and poor nations.</p>.<p>More than 619,000 people have died in the United States from Covid-19, with case numbers increasing sharply in recent months due to the spread of the Delta variant.</p>.<p>The country's rapid vaccination program has slowed particularly in politically conservative regions in the South and Midwest, and among younger people, those with lower income and racial minorities.</p>.<p>"Right now at this moment, other than the immune compromised, we're not going to be giving boosters to people," top US Covid advisor Anthony Fauci told NBC on Thursday.</p>.<p>"But we will be following them very carefully, and if they do need it, we'll be ready to give it to them... inevitably there will be a time when we will have to give boosts."</p>.<p>Covid-19 vaccines are free and widely available in the United States, yet only half the population is fully vaccinated.</p>.<p>President Joe Biden announced in July that all federal employees must attest to being vaccinated or face tough restrictions such as regular testing amid a surge in hospitalisations.</p>.<p>Propelled by the highly contagious Delta variant, coronavirus infections have soared to a daily average of more than 100,000, a level not seen since the winter surge.</p>