Moderna

Moderna says a study in kids 6 to 11 found two doses of the company's COVID-19 vaccine given 28 days apart produced a strong antibody response.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky also endorsed a mix-and-match approach to boosters that would be flexible for patients and health care providers.

The Food and Drug Administration also gave an OK to boosters that differ from the vaccine originally used to immunize people against COVID-19. A mix-and-match approach could ease the booster rollout.

The recommendation applies to people 65 years and older, those 18 to 64 who are at high risk of severe COVID and those whose work or institutional exposure puts them at high COVID risk.

Should people who get a COVID booster get a different vaccine from their original shot? The results of a highly anticipated study suggest that in some cases the answer may be yes.

The Food and Drug Administration released briefing documents Tuesday on booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines ahead of a two-day advisory meeting that starts Thursday.

Noubar Afeyan also reiterated a pledge Moderna made a year ago not to enforce patent infringement on anyone else making a coronavirus vaccine during the pandemic.

How much the vaccine manufacturers stand to gain depends on how big the rollout proves to be.

But the researchers stressed that all three vaccines, including the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson shots, provide strong protection against people getting so sick that they end up in the hospital.

Moderna submitted data from 344 volunteers who got a third shot of the vaccine six months after their first two doses. The additional shot significantly boosted immunity, the company said.