CDC study describes safety profile of second mRNA COVID booster Coronavirus Disease COVID Efficacy CDCgov CDCMMWR
By Dr. Sanchari Sinha Dutta, Ph.D.Aug 1 2022Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. The CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response Team recently conducted a study to investigate the safety profile of a fourth dose, otherwise referred to as a second booster dose, of messenger ribonucleic acid -based coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines in people aged 50 years and older.
Subsequently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a second mRNA booster dose for adults aged 50 years and above, as well as for immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years and older, four months after receiving a first booster dose. Approximately 16.8 million U.S. residents aged 50 years and older received a second booster vaccine dose between March and July 2022. The current safety analysis included individuals who received homologous or heterologous mRNA vaccination with the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Related StoriesFIGURE. Adverse reactions and health impacts* reported by adults aged ≥50 years who received COVID-19 vaccine booster,† by dose — v-safe data, United States, March 29–July 10, 2022§ Of all v-safe registrants, about 87% reported receipt of a homologous second mRNA booster vaccination. Among these individuals, local and systemic effects, as well as an inability to perform daily activities, workplace activities, or attend school, were less frequently observed after a homologous second mRNA booster dose as compared to that after any previous vaccine doses.
The most commonly reported local and systemic effects after vaccination included fatigue, headache, and fever. Among reports mentioning vaccination errors, such as improper vaccine storage or administration of an expired vaccine, about 13% also included information on adverse health issues, such as COVID-19, injection site pain, and fever.