Top US health officials voice support for third Covid-19 vaccine shot

America's top health officials voiced their support for so-called booster shots against Covid-19 starting from September.

In a joint statement, officials including the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, and Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner, Janet Woodcock, said that a third dose of the shot produced by either Moderna or Pfizer "will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability."

"Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout."

Starting from 20 September, the plan was to provide shots to those who had received their second vaccine dose at least eight months prior.

However, the US health watchdog, the Food and Drug Administration, first needed to conduct an independent evaluation and clear the plans.