Biden says U.S. well being officers are contemplating Covid booster vaccinations inside 5 months

United States President Joe Biden will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on August 27, 2021.

Nicholas Comb | AFP | Getty Images

President Joe Biden said U.S. regulators are considering giving Covid-19 booster vaccinations five months after completing the primary series and postponing the expected schedule for a third vaccination by about three months.

Biden, who spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Friday, said health officials are considering following Israel’s lead on boosters.

“We are considering the advice you have given that we should start earlier,” Biden said, adding that officials are discussing whether the schedule should be shorter. “It should only be five months and that is being discussed.”

The booster vaccination approval is expected to come sometime around Labor Day after federal health officials had time to review data from other countries and vaccine manufacturers that indicated the booster dose was effective six months after a previous dose.

Distribution of the booster vaccine, following approval by the Food and Drug Administration and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is expected to begin on September 20. The Biden government and vaccine manufacturers have indicated that there should be enough doses for any fully vaccinated adult aiming for a third dose.