This week, millions of Americans became eligible to receive a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
In a press briefing on Friday, President Joe Biden revealed that at least 60 million people can start receiving third doses - but told those outside the eligible groups to 'wait their turn.'
But there has been some confusion about whom Biden was talking about, especially after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director (CDC) Dr Rochelle Walensky overruled her own agency's advisory panel to recommend boosters for a broader group.
As this new phase of the vaccination rollout begins, DailyMail.com breaks down who is eligible to receive boosters, where they can get them and why CDC advisers were at odds with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
On Friday, President Joe Biden announced at a press briefing (above) that 60 million Americans have become eligible to receive booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine
WHAT ARE COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTERS?
A booster shot is given at least six months after people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
It is meant to prolong immunity and give a 'boost' to the immune system to create higher levels of antibodies against the virus.
WHICH COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER CAN I GET?
Right now, only people who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and were given their final shot at least six months ago, can get booster shots.
This is because the FDA has only reviewed data from Pfizer so far.
Pfizer's booster shot is exactly the same - ingredients-wise and dosage (30 micrograms) - as the first two doses.
WHO SHOULD GET BOOSTER SHOTS?
Last month, boosters were authorized for Americans with compromised immune systems. This week, that authorization was expanded to specific at-risk groups.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended on Thursday that people in any of these groups should get a third dose:
People aged 65 and older Long-term care facility residents People aged 50 to 64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions
DailyMail.com has provided a breakdown of who is eligible for boosters, when they can get them and why a CDC panel initially rejected boosters for specific groups. Pictured: An elderly woman gets a COVID-19 Pfizer booster, September 24
WHO CAN CONSIDER GETTING BOOSTERS?
Two more groups were made eligible by the CDC, but stopped short of offering a full recommendation, instead saying they can consider boosters:
People aged 18 to 64 with underlying health conditions based on individual benefits and risks People aged 18 to 64 at high-risk due to their job, such as healthcare workers, teachers and grocery store employees - People aged 18 to 64 who are in homeless shelters or in prisonsBUT DIDN'T THE CDC'S ADIVSORY PANEL RECOMMEND AGAINST BOOSTERS FOR PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK DUE TO THIEIR JOBS?
ACIP voted 8-7 against recommending use for those are at risk due to an 'occupational or institutional setting' after the FDA authorized third doses for this group.
During its meeting on Thursday, some members said the FDA had made this authorization based on limited data and there was not enough evidence to prove that people in these groups needed third doses.
Others
