Group now set to review pfizer s data for a third shot tomorrow. we have reported on who should get them first and if they re needed for everyone and that new study from israel finding the pfizer booster provides ten times more protection against infection and severe disease. in this country tonight more than 2,000 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, the highest single day in seven months. hospitals in nine states now at their highest level in the pandemic. idaho now extending their, quote, crisis standard of care to the entire state which essentially allows them to ration medical care. that outside panel will consider pfizer s case for that booster shot. pfizer suggesting the booster six months after your second shot. for those 16 and older. what authorities are already saying about boosters in new york city. whit johnson leading us off tonight. reporter: on the eve of that critical fda meeting on
Data is persuasive to give boosters to everybody. reporter: if the fda gives pfizer boosters the green light tomorrow, a cdc panel will address the matter next wednesday, meaning those third doses could be available by late next week at the earliest. moderna is expected to seek thunderstorms for its boosters within the next few weeks. we have to vaccinate the 80 million americans who are still unvaccinated. giving more vaccine to the 180 million americans who have already been fully vaccinated is not going to change that. reporter: and the pandemic still raging in the u.s. 2,000 deaths reported on wednesday, the highest single day total in seven months. officials in idaho calling the situation dire, all hospitals can now ration care if needed. nine states hitting record hospitalizations including tennessee with the highest infection rate in the country. doctors losing younger patients. it s another thing to talk to the wife of somebody who s younger than me and tell her that sh
Boosters, new data out of israel indicating an additional pfizer shot provided ten times more protection against covid and severe disease. with the battle over boosters heating up, the director of the nih saying this latest study turned him from a skeptic to a believer. the people who got immunized back in january, by the time you got to july, their protection would really have started to drop off, and not just against any infection, but even against severe infection. and that s the signal you want to watch for to say, oh, might be time to do something like a booster. reporter: and in israel the effect of boosters on people 60 and older even stronger. 12 days after that third shot, the risk of severe infection was reduced by nearly 20 times. but some at the fda are questioning whether they re truly needed for everyone. others making the case that boosters may only be justified for older americans right now. this data is persuasive. it s quite persuasive to me that it will be wise
We will be here every weekday at three. answering your questions. tonight, the crucial fda meeting in the next 24 hours on booster shots in this country. deciding on the pfizer booster first. the fda s critical decision expected as early as tomorrow and tonight here the new data out of israel. and what it shows. a third pfizer shot researchers say provides ten times more protection against covid and severe disease. and what it shows for adults 60 and older. all of this amid the dire numbers here in the u.s., more than 2,000 deaths in the u.s. in the last 24 hours. the highest number in seven months. whit johnson with late reporting tonight, how soon those booster shots could begin and what new york city is staying. authorities securing the u.s. capitol ahead of that protest in support of the hundreds arrested in the january 6th attack on the capitol.
Tonight a special counsel that had been appointed by former president trump indicting the attorney for allegedly lying about who he was representing and making those claims. pierre thomas standing by. the growing mystery tonight, the prominent lawyer surrendering to authorities today accused of attempting to plan his own murder. in an alleged insurance plot for his son. and all of this comes months after the mysterious deaths of that lawyer s wife and son. and history in space tonight, the extraordinary images coming in only civilians on board and their remarkable view. good evening. great to have you with us on a thursday night. we begin tonight with this crucial meeting coming, the fda and their critical decision on booster shots in this country. the pfizer booster is being considered first. this is an outside advisory