FDA expected to approve mixing-and-matching COVID-19 vaccines for booster shots

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve mixing-and-matching COVID-19 vaccine booster shots later this week.

The FDA already approved third doses of the Pfizer vaccine and is expected to approve the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for booster shots shortly, as well. For example, if all three were approved for boosters, and mixing-and-matching was approved, a person who received two doses of the Moderna vaccine last spring could receive a booster from any of the three vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisers are scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss Moderna and J&J boosters.

Mixing-and-matching would allow greater flexibility and lead to shorter wait times for appointments to receive a booster. However, the new guidance is expected to indicate that it’s preferable to receive a booster from the same vaccine, especially for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that have proved most effective against the coronavirus.

A Safeway pharmacist fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccination in San Rafael, Calif.
A Safeway pharmacist fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccination in San Rafael, Calif. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

However, data has shown that booster shots dramatically increase the level of antibodies regardless of which brand a person received initially, but people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and then a booster from one of the other two had the greatest increase in antibodies.

Boosters also showed good protection against the delta variant of COVID.

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