The Biden administration is planning to give Americans age 50 or older the option of a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine without recommending outright that they get one, according to several people familiar with the plan.

Major uncertainties have complicated the decision, including how long the protection from a second booster would last, how to explain the plan to the public and even whether the overall goal is to shield Americans from severe disease or from less serious infections as well, since they could lead to long COVID.

Much depends on when the next wave of COVID infections will hit, and how hard. Should the nation be hit by a virulent surge in the next few months, offering a second booster now for older Americans could arguably save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations.

But if no major wave hits until the fall, extra shots now could turn out to be a questionable intervention that wastes vaccine doses, deepens vaccination fatigue and sows doubt about the government’s strategy. The highly contagious omicron subvariant BA.2 is helping to drive another surge of coronavirus cases in Europe and is responsible for about one-third of new cases in the United States, but health officials have said they do not anticipate a major surge caused by the subvariant.

Federal health officials have hotly debated the way forward, with some strongly in favor of a second booster now and others sceptical. But they have apparently coalesced around a plan to give everyone age 50 and up the option of an additional shot, in case infections surge again before the fall. In the fall, officials say, Americans of all ages, including anyone who gets a booster this spring, should get another shot.

The Food and Drug Administration could authorize a second booster early next week, according to multiple people familiar with the deliberations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would then follow with its own advice.

A second booster is at best a stopgap measure. Many experts argue that the existing coronavirus vaccines need to be modified because the virus’ variants are diminishing their power; the question is how to reconfigure them. A surge in the fall is considered highly likely, whether it comes in the form of the omicron variant, a subvariant like BA.2 or a new lineage entirely.

More than a dozen studies are underway to find the next generation of vaccines, with the first results expected in May or June. If all goes well, that would allow enough time to produce new doses before the fall. One major hitch is that the Biden administration says it does not have the money it needs to reserve its place in line by paying vaccine manufacturers for doses in advance.

On the plus side, data from the CDC indicates that four to five months after a third shot, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines remain about 78% effective against hospitalization due to COVID-19. That might even be an underestimate, given the study’s limitations.

On the other hand, 78% is still a drop from the 91% effectiveness that was found after two months, and the vaccines’ potency may fall further with more time. If a new wave hits in the coming months, even a somewhat modest decline in protection against hospitalization could have a huge impact, especially among the roughly 55 million Americans 65 or older, who have borne the brunt of the pandemic so far. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have said that emerging data, including from Kaiser Permanente, shows that the potency of its booster dose against severe disease wanes in three to six months.

Already, 1 in 75 Americans 65 or older has died of COVID-19, making up three-fourths of the nation’s deaths from the virus, according to the CDC’s data. More than 33 million people in that age group, or more than two-thirds, have received a first booster and would be eligible for a second.

For some officials, the bottom-line question is this: How much must effectiveness against hospitalization drop before a second booster is justified?

As it was in the fall, when boosters were first rolled out, the broader scientific community is divided over what to do. “I am not persuaded there is substantial waning of protection against severe disease after the third dose,” Dr. Philip Krause, a former senior regulator at the FDA, said in an interview.

But Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and medical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said that while healthy younger people with one booster were fine at this point, older people “should probably start receiving fourth shots now.”

There may be somewhat less resistance among scientists now than there was to the first booster shots, since evidence has emerged that those doses saved lives during the winter’s omicron wave.

Given the limited nature of data supporting a second round of booster shots, some federal officials say that some sort of neutral advice is as far as the Biden administration can go. But in general, wishy-washy regulatory advice is not popular, as people and doctors often want concrete advice more than options.

Dr. Judith A. Aberg, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai Health System, said the public could be frustrated with mere permission for a second booster.

Unlike with the first round of regulatory decisions on booster shots, no meetings of the advisory committees of either the FDA or the CDC are planned before the decision on second boosters. The panels’ recommendations are nonbinding but are usually followed. Bypassing those committees will draw criticism.

“This is a complex decision that involves a pretty deep dive, and I think it would really benefit from public discussion,” said Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, a former chief scientist at the FDA. “I would not want to see an advisory committee skipped on this.”

But administration officials seem willing to accept complaints about the process. The FDA has scheduled an April 6 meeting of its advisory committee to discuss what the administration’s overall vaccine strategy should be moving forward.

As for timing, federal officials appear to be simply making their best guess. If people get a second booster now and the virus has a resurgence in July, their protection may have already fallen off again. On the other hand, if the administration waits until a COVID wave hits, it will be too late to vaccinate tens of millions of people.

The supply appears to be there: States have 131 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on hand. Many experts say there is no evidence that an additional shot could hurt people’s immunity by habituating them to coronavirus vaccines.

The biggest downside may be more vaccine fatigue and skepticism that the vaccines work and that the nation’s vaccine policy is really driven by data. With each successive shot that becomes available, fewer Americans get it.

Besides the CDC, Britain and Israel have put out data on the waning effectiveness of booster shots. The latest report by Britain’s health security agency states that effectiveness against symptomatic infection drops to between 25-40% 15 weeks or longer after a booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna.

The British health agency said how well boosters protect against hospitalization was harder to measure. Since omicron typically caused milder illness than previous variants, more hospitalized patients tested positive for COVID-19 but had been admitted for other reasons.

Looking only at patients admitted for respiratory illness, the agency estimated that vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization for those 65 or older dropped to 85 per cent&nbsp;15 weeks or more after the booster, compared with 91% in the weeks right after the shot. Like a smattering of other countries, Britain is offering a second booster this spring to older people and others at high risk.

Israel’s data suggests that a second booster shot raises protection fourfold against hospitalization and twofold against infection. But no one knows for how long. Since Israel only recently began its second booster campaign, it has data for only two months or less. Other Israeli data suggests that a second booster restores antibody levels to their peak level after the first booster, but Aberg said that data set, too, had limitations.

A study released Thursday of more than a half-million Israelis age 60 or older found a notable reduction in mortality among those who received a second booster compared with those who received only a first. That research has piqued strong interest among some vaccine experts but has not been peer-reviewed.

Pfizer and Moderna do not seem to have much of their own data to support their requests for emergency authorization; Pfizer is seeking second boosters for those 65 and older, while Moderna filed a sweeping request to offer second booster shots to all adults. Neither has data from a randomized, placebo-controlled study — considered to be the gold standard of scientific evidence — on how well the dose would work.

“We are going to have to make this decision on the basis of incomplete information,” said Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The Biden administration is planning to give Americans age 50 or older the option of a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine without recommending outright that they get one, according to several people familiar with the plan.

The Biden administration is planning to give Americans age 50 or older the option of a second booster of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine without recommending outright that they get one, according to several people familiar with the plan. Major uncertainties have complicated the decision, including how long the protection from a second booster would last, how to explain the plan to the public and even whether the overall goal is to shield Americans from severe disease or from less serious infections as well, since they could lead to long COVID. Much depends on when the next wave of COVID infections will hit, and how hard. Should the nation be hit by a virulent surge in the next few months, offering a second booster now for older Americans could arguably save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations. But if no major wave hits until the fall, extra shots now could turn out to be a questionable intervention that wastes vaccine doses, deepens vaccination fatigue and sows doubt about the government’s strategy. The highly contagious omicron subvariant BA.2 is helping to drive another surge of coronavirus cases in Europe and is responsible for about one-third of new cases in the United States, but health officials have said they do not anticipate a major surge caused by the subvariant. Federal health officials have hotly debated the way forward, with some strongly in favor of a second booster now and others sceptical. But they have apparently coalesced around a plan to give everyone age 50 and up the option of an additional shot, in case infections surge again before the fall. In the fall, officials say, Americans of all ages, including anyone who gets a booster this spring, should get another shot. The Food and Drug Administration could authorize a second booster early next week, according to multiple people familiar with the deliberations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would then follow with its own advice. A second booster is at best a stopgap measure. Many experts argue that the existing coronavirus vaccines need to be modified because the virus’ variants are diminishing their power; the question is how to reconfigure them. A surge in the fall is considered highly likely, whether it comes in the form of the omicron variant, a subvariant like BA.2 or a new lineage entirely. More than a dozen studies are underway to find the next generation of vaccines, with the first results expected in May or June. If all goes well, that would allow enough time to produce new doses before the fall. One major hitch is that the Biden administration says it does not have the money it needs to reserve its place in line by paying vaccine manufacturers for doses in advance. On the plus side, data from the CDC indicates that four to five months after a third shot, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines remain about 78% effective against hospitalization due to COVID-19. That might even be an underestimate, given the study’s limitations. On the other hand, 78% is still a drop from the 91% effectiveness that was found after two months, and the vaccines’ potency may fall further with more time. If a new wave hits in the coming months, even a somewhat modest decline in protection against hospitalization could have a huge impact, especially among the roughly 55 million Americans 65 or older, who have borne the brunt of the pandemic so far. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have said that emerging data, including from Kaiser Permanente, shows that the potency of its booster dose against severe disease wanes in three to six months. Already, 1 in 75 Americans 65 or older has died of COVID-19, making up three-fourths of the nation’s deaths from the virus, according to the CDC’s data. More than 33 million people in that age group, or more than two-thirds, have received a first booster and would be eligible for a second. For some officials, the bottom-line question is this: How much must effectiveness against hospitalization drop before a second booster is justified? As it was in the fall, when boosters were first rolled out, the broader scientific community is divided over what to do. “I am not persuaded there is substantial waning of protection against severe disease after the third dose,” Dr. Philip Krause, a former senior regulator at the FDA, said in an interview. But Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease doctor and medical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, said that while healthy younger people with one booster were fine at this point, older people “should probably start receiving fourth shots now.” There may be somewhat less resistance among scientists now than there was to the first booster shots, since evidence has emerged that those doses saved lives during the winter’s omicron wave. Given the limited nature of data supporting a second round of booster shots, some federal officials say that some sort of neutral advice is as far as the Biden administration can go. But in general, wishy-washy regulatory advice is not popular, as people and doctors often want concrete advice more than options. Dr. Judith A. Aberg, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Mount Sinai Health System, said the public could be frustrated with mere permission for a second booster. Unlike with the first round of regulatory decisions on booster shots, no meetings of the advisory committees of either the FDA or the CDC are planned before the decision on second boosters. The panels’ recommendations are nonbinding but are usually followed. Bypassing those committees will draw criticism. “This is a complex decision that involves a pretty deep dive, and I think it would really benefit from public discussion,” said Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, a former chief scientist at the FDA. “I would not want to see an advisory committee skipped on this.” But administration officials seem willing to accept complaints about the process. The FDA has scheduled an April 6 meeting of its advisory committee to discuss what the administration’s overall vaccine strategy should be moving forward. As for timing, federal officials appear to be simply making their best guess. If people get a second booster now and the virus has a resurgence in July, their protection may have already fallen off again. On the other hand, if the administration waits until a COVID wave hits, it will be too late to vaccinate tens of millions of people. The supply appears to be there: States have 131 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on hand. Many experts say there is no evidence that an additional shot could hurt people’s immunity by habituating them to coronavirus vaccines. The biggest downside may be more vaccine fatigue and skepticism that the vaccines work and that the nation’s vaccine policy is really driven by data. With each successive shot that becomes available, fewer Americans get it. Besides the CDC, Britain and Israel have put out data on the waning effectiveness of booster shots. The latest report by Britain’s health security agency states that effectiveness against symptomatic infection drops to between 25-40% 15 weeks or longer after a booster dose of either Pfizer or Moderna. The British health agency said how well boosters protect against hospitalization was harder to measure. Since omicron typically caused milder illness than previous variants, more hospitalized patients tested positive for COVID-19 but had been admitted for other reasons. Looking only at patients admitted for respiratory illness, the agency estimated that vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization for those 65 or older dropped to 85 per cent 15 weeks or more after the booster, compared with 91% in the weeks right after the shot. Like a smattering of other countries, Britain is offering a second booster this spring to older people and others at high risk. Israel’s data suggests that a second booster shot raises protection fourfold against hospitalization and twofold against infection. But no one knows for how long. Since Israel only recently began its second booster campaign, it has data for only two months or less. Other Israeli data suggests that a second booster restores antibody levels to their peak level after the first booster, but Aberg said that data set, too, had limitations. A study released Thursday of more than a half-million Israelis age 60 or older found a notable reduction in mortality among those who received a second booster compared with those who received only a first. That research has piqued strong interest among some vaccine experts but has not been peer-reviewed. Pfizer and Moderna do not seem to have much of their own data to support their requests for emergency authorization; Pfizer is seeking second boosters for those 65 and older, while Moderna filed a sweeping request to offer second booster shots to all adults. Neither has data from a randomized, placebo-controlled study — considered to be the gold standard of scientific evidence — on how well the dose would work. “We are going to have to make this decision on the basis of incomplete information,” said Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a vaccine expert at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Biden administration plans to offer second booster shots to those 50 and older

As evidence grows that the delta and omicron variants of the coronavirus are causing breakthrough infections in people who were once considered “fully vaccinated,” momentum seems to be growing to change the definition of that term to include booster shots.

Some workplaces and college campuses are now mandating that vaccination include boosters. The governor of New York said that state officials planned to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” to include receiving a booster dose, and Britain’s government will not be far behind. The NFL last week issued a booster shot mandate for team staff members who work closely with players.

And the speculation is growing that we may have to get boosters regularly in future years as new variants emerge.

A few months ago, confirming full vaccination status was as simple as showing a card or QR code with proof that the required number of shots had been completed within six months. But in a world of multiple vaccines with varying effectiveness, and a variety of mixing and matching strategies, it will soon be harder to say who is “fully vaccinated.”

A consensus will eventually emerge. But here is what some health experts had to say as another year of living with the pandemic was nearing a close.

What is the official definition of ‘fully vaccinated’?

For now, U.S. health officials say you are fully vaccinated two weeks after your second shot of a two-dose vaccine like Pfizer’s or Moderna’s or after a single-dose vaccine like Johnson &amp;&nbsp;Johnson’s. They have not (yet) expanded that definition to include a booster shot.

At a White House press briefing Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency is “continuing to follow” the science around omicron before it decides to expand the definition. However, the agency does recommend that people get booster shots.

So does Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, who said at the same press briefing, “If you are unvaccinated, get vaccinated. And particularly in the arena of omicron, if you are fully vaccinated, get your booster shot.”

Other countries, like Britain and South Africa, also do not require booster shots for someone to be considered “fully vaccinated.”

This was always going to change.

As it became clear that the immunity conferred by the initial rounds of vaccines was waning, Israel announced in October that it would make a booster dose a requirement for its vaccine passport. It was believed to be the first country to do so, though it would not be the last.

In late November, just before omicron fast-forwarded booster programs around the world, the European Union began to discuss adding a nine-month expiration date to its digital certificates, a move it formally adopted this week.

Some of the EU’s member nations, like Austria, had already enacted an expiration date for their residents. In France, where the certificates expire seven months after a second dose, all adults have until Jan. 15 to receive a booster, or their passes will no longer allow them access to places like restaurants and museums.

Do I need a booster shot to fend off omicron?

Early research indicates that the omicron variant is somewhat less vulnerable to the body’s immune defenses. Booster shots help bolster your antibody response, said Michel Nussenzweig, an immunologist at Rockefeller University in New York.

So, yes, you should get that additional jab, said Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former chief scientist at the Food and Drug Administration.

“This booster dose has really protected people better against delta,” he said. “Even without omicron, there’s good reason to get the booster dose.”

You can still get infected even after a booster, but the shot will probably protect you against severe illness or death, he said.

How effective is being ‘fully vaccinated’ at this point?

“It depends on what it is you’re trying to prevent,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at Bellevue Hospital Center who has previously advised the Biden administration.

A booster is more effective than just the first two shots at preventing hospitalization or death, she said.

Many U.S. public health experts continue to say that the two-dose regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna will protect most people against severe illness or death, as the vaccines are intended to do. A preliminary study in South Africa showed that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 70% effective against hospitalization, part of the early evidence cited by those supporting boosters.

The first two doses have been effective against infection with the delta variant, but it is not yet clear how well they work against omicron, said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an adviser to the FDA.

“If the goal is protection against any form of illness, then two doses of the current mRNA vaccine will not protect you as well against mild illness,” he said.

If the definition changes, how does that work?

Like so much else since the pandemic started, expect a period of confusion as a patchwork of local, national and international governments evolve at different speeds. Any places that have so far required proof of vaccination — offices, schools, airlines, concerts, sporting events, entire countries — are likely to soon face questions about how and when to change the rules for admission.

Businesses are already facing uncertainty amid challenges to existing vaccine mandates, and the addition of boosters along with rapidly rising case counts have further confused things.

At BlackRock, an investment management company, the vaccination requirement at its New York offices has not evolved to include booster shots, Brian Beades, a company spokesperson, said Monday. But, as with vaccination policies around the world, he said, “people are thinking about new considerations all the time.”

As evidence grows that the delta and omicron variants of the coronavirus are causing breakthrough infections in people who were once considered “fully vaccinated,” momentum seems to be growing to change the definition of that term to include booster shots.

As evidence grows that the delta and omicron variants of the coronavirus are causing breakthrough infections in people who were once considered “fully vaccinated,” momentum seems to be growing to change the definition of that term to include booster shots. Some workplaces and college campuses are now mandating that vaccination include boosters. The governor of New York said that state officials planned to change the definition of “fully vaccinated” to include receiving a booster dose, and Britain’s government will not be far behind. The NFL last week issued a booster shot mandate for team staff members who work closely with players. And the speculation is growing that we may have to get boosters regularly in future years as new variants emerge. A few months ago, confirming full vaccination status was as simple as showing a card or QR code with proof that the required number of shots had been completed within six months. But in a world of multiple vaccines with varying effectiveness, and a variety of mixing and matching strategies, it will soon be harder to say who is “fully vaccinated.” A consensus will eventually emerge. But here is what some health experts had to say as another year of living with the pandemic was nearing a close. What is the official definition of ‘fully vaccinated’? For now, U.S. health officials say you are fully vaccinated two weeks after your second shot of a two-dose vaccine like Pfizer’s or Moderna’s or after a single-dose vaccine like Johnson & Johnson’s. They have not (yet) expanded that definition to include a booster shot. At a White House press briefing Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency is “continuing to follow” the science around omicron before it decides to expand the definition. However, the agency does recommend that people get booster shots. So does Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, who said at the same press briefing, “If you are unvaccinated, get vaccinated. And particularly in the arena of omicron, if you are fully vaccinated, get your booster shot.” Other countries, like Britain and South Africa, also do not require booster shots for someone to be considered “fully vaccinated.” This was always going to change. As it became clear that the immunity conferred by the initial rounds of vaccines was waning, Israel announced in October that it would make a booster dose a requirement for its vaccine passport. It was believed to be the first country to do so, though it would not be the last. In late November, just before omicron fast-forwarded booster programs around the world, the European Union began to discuss adding a nine-month expiration date to its digital certificates, a move it formally adopted this week. Some of the EU’s member nations, like Austria, had already enacted an expiration date for their residents. In France, where the certificates expire seven months after a second dose, all adults have until Jan. 15 to receive a booster, or their passes will no longer allow them access to places like restaurants and museums. Do I need a booster shot to fend off omicron? Early research indicates that the omicron variant is somewhat less vulnerable to the body’s immune defenses. Booster shots help bolster your antibody response, said Michel Nussenzweig, an immunologist at Rockefeller University in New York. So, yes, you should get that additional jab, said Dr. Jesse Goodman, a former chief scientist at the Food and Drug Administration. “This booster dose has really protected people better against delta,” he said. “Even without omicron, there’s good reason to get the booster dose.” You can still get infected even after a booster, but the shot will probably protect you against severe illness or death, he said. How effective is being ‘fully vaccinated’ at this point? “It depends on what it is you’re trying to prevent,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist at Bellevue Hospital Center who has previously advised the Biden administration. A booster is more effective than just the first two shots at preventing hospitalization or death, she said. Many U.S. public health experts continue to say that the two-dose regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna will protect most people against severe illness or death, as the vaccines are intended to do. A preliminary study in South Africa showed that two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were 70% effective against hospitalization, part of the early evidence cited by those supporting boosters. The first two doses have been effective against infection with the delta variant, but it is not yet clear how well they work against omicron, said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an adviser to the FDA. “If the goal is protection against any form of illness, then two doses of the current mRNA vaccine will not protect you as well against mild illness,” he said. If the definition changes, how does that work? Like so much else since the pandemic started, expect a period of confusion as a patchwork of local, national and international governments evolve at different speeds. Any places that have so far required proof of vaccination — offices, schools, airlines, concerts, sporting events, entire countries — are likely to soon face questions about how and when to change the rules for admission. Businesses are already facing uncertainty amid challenges to existing vaccine mandates, and the addition of boosters along with rapidly rising case counts have further confused things. At BlackRock, an investment management company, the vaccination requirement at its New York offices has not evolved to include booster shots, Brian Beades, a company spokesperson, said Monday. But, as with vaccination policies around the world, he said, “people are thinking about new considerations all the time.”

What does it mean to be ‘fully vaccinated’ against COVID-19?

<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/massachusetts/index.html">Massachusetts</a>&nbsp;Senator Elizabeth Warren and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus amid fears of increase in Omicron cases.<o:p></o:p>

Warren reported that she was going through her regular Covid tests when she tested positive. “I regularly test for COVID &amp; while I tested negative earlier this week, today I tested positive with a breakthrough case,” the Democrat announced.<o:p></o:p>

She tested positive despite being fully vaccinated and a little after receiving a booster shot against the deadly coronavirus. <o:p></o:p>

"Thankfully, I am only experiencing mild symptoms &amp; am grateful for the protection provided against serious illness that comes from being vaccinated &amp; boosted."

<o:p></o:p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I learned today that I tested positive for COVID-19 after first feeling symptoms on Saturday. My symptoms are relatively mild. I’m beyond grateful to have received two doses of vaccine and, more recently, a booster – I’m certain that without them I would be doing much worse.
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenBooker/status/1472722005657112578?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

A couple of hours after Warren’s announcement, Senator Cory Booker, too, declared that he had also tested positive despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.<o:p></o:p>

"My symptoms are relatively mild. I’m beyond grateful to have received two doses of vaccine and, more recently, a booster – I’m certain that without them I would be doing much worse," Booker said. " encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and boosted."<o:p></o:p>

These two new cases are one of the rarest cases where someone has tested positive for COVID-19 even after being fully vaccina ted and having received a booster shot.<o:p></o:p>

Both the Senators have claimed that they have mild symptoms and are doing relatively well mainly because they were fully vaccinated and boosted. The two officials used this moment to urge locals to get vaccinated and boosted against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I regularly test for COVID &amp; while I tested negative earlier this week, today I tested positive with a breakthrough case. Thankfully, I am only experiencing mild symptoms &amp; am grateful for the protection provided against serious illness that comes from being vaccinated &amp; boosted.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenWarren/status/1472681405293293570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"As cases increase across the country, I urge everyone who has not already done so to get the vaccine and the booster as soon as possible - together, we can save lives," Warren tweeted.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus amid fears of increase in Omicron cases.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and New Jersey Senator Cory Booker have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus amid fears of increase in Omicron cases. Warren reported that she was going through her regular Covid tests when she tested positive. “I regularly test for COVID & while I tested negative earlier this week, today I tested positive with a breakthrough case,” the Democrat announced. She tested positive despite being fully vaccinated and a little after receiving a booster shot against the deadly coronavirus. "Thankfully, I am only experiencing mild symptoms & am grateful for the protection provided against serious illness that comes from being vaccinated & boosted." I learned today that I tested positive for COVID-19 after first feeling symptoms on Saturday. My symptoms are relatively mild. I’m beyond grateful to have received two doses of vaccine and, more recently, a booster – I’m certain that without them I would be doing much worse. — Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) December 20, 2021 × A couple of hours after Warren’s announcement, Senator Cory Booker, too, declared that he had also tested positive despite being fully vaccinated and boosted. "My symptoms are relatively mild. I’m beyond grateful to have received two doses of vaccine and, more recently, a booster – I’m certain that without them I would be doing much worse," Booker said. " encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and boosted." These two new cases are one of the rarest cases where someone has tested positive for COVID-19 even after being fully vaccina ted and having received a booster shot. Both the Senators have claimed that they have mild symptoms and are doing relatively well mainly because they were fully vaccinated and boosted. The two officials used this moment to urge locals to get vaccinated and boosted against the deadly coronavirus as soon as possible. I regularly test for COVID & while I tested negative earlier this week, today I tested positive with a breakthrough case. Thankfully, I am only experiencing mild symptoms & am grateful for the protection provided against serious illness that comes from being vaccinated & boosted. — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 19, 2021 × "As cases increase across the country, I urge everyone who has not already done so to get the vaccine and the booster as soon as possible - together, we can save lives," Warren tweeted.

Democrat senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker test Covid positive despite booster shots

As coronavirus cases continue to surge in the US, authorities on Friday&nbsp;approved Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster shots for all those over 18.&nbsp;

The booster doses were earlier authorised&nbsp;for people over 65. The FDA said the move will "eliminate confusion about who may receive a booster dose" as the country grapples with the virus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-army-to-bar-promotion-re-enlistment-for-soldiers-who-refuse-to-take-covid-vaccine-430505">Also Read:&nbsp;US Army to bar promotion, re-enlistment for soldiers who refuse to take Covid vaccine</a>

According to the FDA, people who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines would be eligible to take the vaccine six months after the second shot and those who had taken the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine can get a booster two months after their first shot.

Pfizer and Moderna had earlier requested authorities for booster doses even as some US states including California, Louisiana and Kansas have already directed&nbsp;adults to take the booster shots.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/austria-to-impose-lockdown-as-europe-grapples-with-virus-surge-430542">Also Read:&nbsp;Austria to impose lockdown as Europe grapples with virus surge</a>

Reports say most deaths and hospitalisations has taken place among the unvaccinated people as the US continues to battle the Delta variant.

According to the White House, 80 per cent of Americans aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 2.6 million kids aged between 5-11 having received one dose.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazenecas-evusheld-therapy-provides-protection-against-covid-19-for-at-least-6-months-430346">Also Read:&nbsp;AstraZeneca's Evusheld therapy provides protection against COVID-19 for at least 6 months</a>

The White House said the government has invested billions of dollars in vaccine manufacturing. The US is the worst-hit country with the virus recording over 47 million coronavirus cases and more than&nbsp;768,700 fatalities.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As coronavirus cases continue to surge in the US, authorities on Friday approved Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster shots for all those over 18. The booster doses were earlier authorised for people over 65.

As coronavirus cases continue to surge in the US, authorities on Friday approved Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna booster shots for all those over 18. The booster doses were earlier authorised for people over 65. The FDA said the move will "eliminate confusion about who may receive a booster dose" as the country grapples with the virus. Also Read: US Army to bar promotion, re-enlistment for soldiers who refuse to take Covid vaccine According to the FDA, people who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines would be eligible to take the vaccine six months after the second shot and those who had taken the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get a booster two months after their first shot. Pfizer and Moderna had earlier requested authorities for booster doses even as some US states including California, Louisiana and Kansas have already directed adults to take the booster shots. Also Read: Austria to impose lockdown as Europe grapples with virus surge Reports say most deaths and hospitalisations has taken place among the unvaccinated people as the US continues to battle the Delta variant. According to the White House, 80 per cent of Americans aged 12 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine with 2.6 million kids aged between 5-11 having received one dose. Also Read: AstraZeneca's Evusheld therapy provides protection against COVID-19 for at least 6 months The White House said the government has invested billions of dollars in vaccine manufacturing. The US is the worst-hit country with the virus recording over 47 million coronavirus cases and more than 768,700 fatalities. (With inputs from Agencies)

US approves COVID-19 booster shots for all adults