CDC panel votes unanimously for boosters for all adults
The CDC's independent advisory committee on Fridayvoted unanimously to recommend that everyone 18 and older who was vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago can get a booster.
The FDA authorized Pfizer and Moderna boosters for all adults earlier on Friday.
The last step in the regulatory process will be CDC director Rochelle Walensky issuing her recommendation.
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett
Nov 19, 2021, 11:34 AM EST
US cases up nearly 40% since October
The U.S. is currently averaging more than 88,000 new cases per day -- a nearly 40% increase since late-October, according to federal data. This increase marks the first surge in daily national cases after nearly 10 weeks of declines.
Michigan, which is now reporting more cases than at any other point in the pandemic, has the nation's highest infection rate, followed by Minnesota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Vermont. Puerto Rico, Florida and Hawaii have the nation's lowest infection rate, according to federal data.
One in every 427 Americans has died from COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Over the last month, the U.S. has reported nearly 37,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to federal data.
Wyoming currently has the country's highest death rate, followed by Montana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Idaho, according to federal data.
-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos
Nov 19, 2021, 11:00 AM EST
Fauci hopeful vaccine could be available for kids under 5 next year
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he's hopeful a COVID-19 vaccine could be available for children under 5 next year, but studies can't be rushed, making an exact timeline uncertain.
"Hopefully within a reasonably short period of time, likely the beginning of next year in 2022, in the first quarter of 2022, it will be available to them," Fauci told Insider, adding, "Can't guarantee it, you've got to do the clinical trial."
Pfizer's pediatric vaccine trials are already underway. The company estimates it could have early results for young children ages 2-4 by the end of the year, meaning authorization is possible sometime next year. Moderna is further behind, but also has ongoing trials in children as young as six months.
Clinical trials don't always unfold on a predictable timeline, and experts emphasize studies in young children won't be rushed.
-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett, Sony Salzman
Nov 19, 2021, 8:45 AM EST
FDA authorizes Moderna and Pfizer boosters for all adults
The FDA on Friday said it has authorized Pfizer and Moderna boosters for all adults, six months after the second shot.
“With boosters, more adults will now have the opportunity to help preserve a high-level of protection against this disease," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.
“This emergency use authorization comes at a critical time as we enter the winter months and face increasing COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations across the country,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement.
As for next steps, the CDC's independent advisory committee is meeting Friday afternoon to discuss boosters for all.
CDC director Rochelle Walensky will issue CDC recommendations, which is the last step in the regulatory process.-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett