COVID-19 Federal Responses: Monday, October 18, 2021

Beginning next week, states can order COVID-19 vaccines in preparation for efforts to vaccinate children ages 5-11.
The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) unanimously voted to recommend Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Johnson & Johnson booster vaccine for people 18 and over at least 2 months after the first dose.
The CDC updated its website and guidelines including Information about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Information about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.

White House and Federal Agencies

White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz announced that the U.S. will open borders to fully vaccinated international travelers starting November 8.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a November 30 meeting to discuss authorization of Merck’s antiviral pill.
President Biden provided updates on the COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Program.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared his plans to sue the Biden administration for imposing vaccine mandates.

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) unanimously voted to recommend Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Johnson & Johnson booster vaccine for people 18 and over at least 2 months after the first dose.
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should have been a two-dose shot instead of a single shot from the start.
Beginning next week, states can order COVID-19 vaccines in preparation for efforts to vaccinate children ages 5-11.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study showing unvaccinated people are 11.3 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than vaccinated people.
The CDC announced that the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk at upcoming holiday gatherings is to get vaccinated.