The largest city in the US as well as several states in the past week have opened eligibility for additional Covid-19 vaccine doses to all adults, anticipating federal approval by US agencies.
New York City health officials on Monday said adults should be allowed to decide whether to receive a booster as long as they are six months out from their last dose, pointing to rising cases, cooler weather pushing activities indoors and the city's high population density.
This follows similar moves by Colorado, California, New Mexico and several other states that have widened eligibility over the past two weeks, as the country has reported increasing cases in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving holiday.
These steps bypass federal booster regulations, which only allow people to receive an additional dose if they are over 65, have an underlying medical condition or are at high risk for exposure.
Even with these policies in place, people who do not fall into these categories have been able to receive booster shots as many vaccine providers do not check qualifications.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 15 per cent of fully vaccinated people in the US have received a booster shot. A total of 70.6 per cent of US adults have been fully vaccinated.
Pfizer last week formally applied for an emergency use authorisation that would make all adults over the age of 18 eligible for a third dose.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s top vaccine official, Dr Peter Marks, told CNN on Tuesday that evaluating Pfizer's request to approve additional doses for all adults is the agency's “highest priority".
The New York Times reported later on Tuesday that the FDA may approve Pfizer's booster for adults as soon as Thursday.
A national federal authorisation would still require the CDC's approval and the agency announced its independent vaccine panel will review the Pfizer application on Friday.
Many doctors have voiced support for the expansion of eligibility.
“The data is becoming increasingly clear,” Dr Ashish Jha of Brown University tweeted. “It is time for every adult six months out to get a booster.”
“Every adult in this country more than six months out from their second mRNA shot should get a booster,” Dr Jonathan Reiner of George Washington University tweeted.
The rising pro-booster sentiment among the doctors, health officials and leaders is due to increasing cases as the country heads into the winter months as well as waning vaccine efficacy.
Researchers found the efficacy of Pfizer's regime, for example, dips to 93 per cent after a month but can plummet as low as 53 per cent after four months. The company says a booster dose would return efficacy to 96 per cent.
Company%20profile
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PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk
“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”
“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”
“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”
“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
The%20specs
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Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
- 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
AS%20WE%20EXIST
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
