On Oct. 4, 2021, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency issued a positive opinion on the administration of the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose at least six months after the second dose in individuals 18ﾠyears of age and older.

The European Commission (EC) was reviewing the CHMP recommendation and was expected to make a final decision on a variation to the Conditional Marketing Authorization in the coming weeks. If granted, the decision will be immediately applicable to all 27 EU member states.