U.S. to consider shorter timeline for COVID-19 booster shot, Biden says

President Joe Biden said on Friday that Federal health authorities are discussing moving up the timeline for coronavirus booster shots sooner than the planned eight-month window,CNBC reports.

“We’re considering the advice you’ve given that we should start earlier,” Biden said, adding that officials are debating whether the timeline should be shorter.

“Should it be as little as five months, and that’s being discussed.”

Approval of the booster shots is expected around Labor Day after federal health officials review data from other countries.

However, later in the day on Friday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki clarified Biden’s comments, saying that he would rely on CDC and FDA to make any changes to formal U.S. health guidance.

“But for people watching at home, for you all who are reporting out this nothing has changed about the eight-month timeline as it relates to the boosters,” Psaki said at a press briefing.

In the U.S.,boosters are already approved for patients with weak immune systems.

Recently, Israel reported that Pfizer(NYSE:PFE)- BioNTech's(NASDAQ:BNTX)COVID-19 booster dose significantly improves protection.

Also last week, Johnson & Johnson(NYSE:JNJ)said that asecond booster dose increased antibodies against the virus and plans talks with U.S. regulators.

Moderna(NASDAQ:MRNA)recently completedBLA rolling submission for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for use in people age 18 years and older.

U.S officials are preparing to offer booster shots for all adults starting on Sept. 20, pending FDA and CDC approval.

Other COVID-19 vaccine makers: AstraZeneca(NASDAQ:AZN); Novavax(NASDAQ:NVAX); Sanofi(NASDAQ:SNY); GlaxoSmithKline(NYSE:GSK); CureVac(NASDAQ:CVAC); Inovio Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ:INO); Ocugen(NASDAQ:OCGN).