White House press secretary Jen Psaki clarified the decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep the definition of “fully vaccinated” as two coronavirus shots rather than three, despite evidence a third COVID-19 dose may be necessary to stave off serious infection from the omicron variant.
“Consistent with how public health has historically viewed or even talked about how we recommend vaccines, we are now recommending that individuals stay up to date with additional doses that they are eligible for,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky during the announcement at Wednesday’s White House COVID-19 briefing.
Psaki was asked during Thursday’s White House press briefing what the “point” is “of calling someone fully vaccinated with only that primary series of shots if the science is showing that that’s not enough to protect them?”
“What the CDC is advising is for everyone to be up to date on their shots,” the White House’s top spokesperson responded. “That means if you’re scheduled at that point to have a booster, you should get a booster, and that is true. That is how they conduct their guidance for basically any shot regimen for diseases.”
Pressed in a follow-up question on whether the CDC will change that definition in the future, Psaki reiterated that when “up to date, [the CDC is] advising people if they’re due for a booster, they should get a booster.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
You can watch Thursday’s entire briefing below.
