Booster vaccines

The FDA and CDC in the US on Friday approved Pfizer (PFE)/BioNTech (BNTX) and Moderna (MRNA) booster vaccines against COVID-19 for all adults in the US. Revaccination with J&J (JNJ) was approved in October. US stock indices rose on the news.

The major manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines: Pfizer (PFE)/ BioNTech (BNTX) and Moderna (MRNA) on Friday finally received approval to use their booster (third) doses to revaccinate all Americans over 18 years. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) approved them after months of debate over whether most people really need booster doses.

Booster vaccines from COVID Pfizer and Moderna had previously been approved for revaccination of older Americans and immunocompromised people.

Approval of booster vaccines in the US has also been complicated by pressure from the WHO (World Health Organisation), which has criticised rich countries for using third vaccines when people in poorer countries have very limited access to Covid vaccines.

Now, the Joe Biden administration can put its promises into practice and revaccinate with a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines all Americans vaccinated at least six months after the completion of the first two vaccinations.

The revaccination with J&J (JNJ), which involves administering a single dose of vaccine, was approved by the FDA on 20 October for adults aged 18 years and older at least two months after the initial vaccination.

This will prevent further increases in the number of cases of the coronavirus, which is hampering growth in the US and global economies.

The main US stock indices rose on the news after the close of trading on Friday with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 adding 0.34% each and the Nasdaq 100 +0.42%.

The news could improve investor sentiment, after growing concern over new isolation measures in Europe amid rising COVID incidence.

Other countries may follow the US lead and offer a third vaccine revaccination for adults during the winter season, which is more dangerous for increased infections as people spend more time indoors.

Pfizer (PFE) shares, up 38% since the start of the year, closed down 1.2% on Friday but recovered 1% on the post-market. Trading signals and forecasts for Pfizer stock.

Moderna (MRNA) shares, up 152.5% YTD but losing 36% in the last quarter, closed up 4.9% on Friday, up 2.55% on the post-market.