friday is starting earlier than ever this year . this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening, everyone further acknowledging covid vaccines while incredibly effective lose some of their punch over time, an fda safety panel has just given its endorsement to booster shots for many americans who were fully vaccinated with a two-dose moderna vaccine. it is not the final word but the panel s recommendation for a third moderna shot mirrors what the cdc recently decided for pfizer boosters, recommending them for older people and those at higher risk of covid infection nearly 188 million americans are now considered fully vaccinated with close to 9 million having already received boosters yet, there remain questions on whether the extra shots are really necessary for most people miguel almaguer has late details. reporter: moving a major step
or 18 and older whose job may put them at greater risk for exposure to the virus. if the full fda and cdc sign off next week, moderna booster shots would roll out to the same groups now eligible for the pfizer boosters. given that pfizer blazed a trail with its booster, it made sense that moderna would follow suit. there were no safety signals involved. and what we re trying to do is bring your immunity up to the point when you were first vaccinated and essentially these boosters will do that trick. reporter: the moderna booster would be only a half dose after data indicated that was enough to restore protection. overall, the moderna vaccine has remained highly effective against severe illness and hospitalization, showing less waning over time than its counterparts, pfizer and j&j. still, moderna says its booster shot given at least six months after the second dose increased protective antibodies by 15-fold one month later. moderna also finding side effects from its booster were si
boosters. 65 and older first, along with 18 and older if you have a health condition or a job that puts you at higher risk. one thing i thought was interesting, moderna s booster will be given as a half dose, 50 micrograma, that a will be given as a half dose, 50 micrograma, tha micrograms. so, why a half shot when we were getting a full shot of pfizer for a booster, was me der that a more powerful shot to begin with? yeah, so, david, thank you for having me back. first of all, they absolutely follow the same blueprint, same groups of individuals, high risk people getting the booster. and the half dose is because, in fact, the original dose of moderna is more powerful than the original dose of pfizer, so the evidence says you really only need a half dose to get the benefits of the booster. what the data shows so far. i know they re going to take up this idea of mixing and matching. i don t want our viewers who got the johnson & johnson one-shot vaccine to think we ve forgotten them
can your internet do that? on to our health lead this hour. a green light for the moderna booster shot. the fda advisory panel voting unanimously this afternoon to recommend authorization of a third moderna vaccine shot. it s a crucial step for people with an increased risk of catching covid, including the elderly. cnn senior medical correspondent with us. when will happen next? jake, as you said, a unanimous vote by advisors to the fda. these are outside external
trying to orchestrate his own death. tonight, why he s now under arrest. remembering a major figure in major league baseball. and made in america is back tonight. just in time for halloween. good evening and it s great to have you with us here on a thursday night. we have several developing stories as we come on the air. the case here in new york city the college student murdered in the park. her father had to leave the courtroom today, the sentencing. but we are going to begin tonight with the pandemic in this country and a major new step. an fda advisory panel today voting unanimously for moderna s booster shot. it s now on a path to emergency authorization. that same panel takes up the johnson & johnson booster tomorrow. now, this moderna booster shot discussed today will be for people 65 and older and for those 18 and older with medical conditions or jobs that put them