US Officials Debate Efficacy of Half Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine

The head of Operation Warp Speed says that by spreading out doses of the Moderna vaccine, more people would be able to get some level of protection sooner, a strategy opposed by other experts.

Written byLisa Winter

| 3 min read

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Update (January 5): On Monday evening, the FDA stated that dosing in the US will occur as planned, based on available data regarding efficacy, saying: “We know that some of these discussions about changing the dosing schedule or dose are based on a belief that changing the dose or dosing schedule can help get more vaccine to the public faster. However, making such changes that are not supported by adequate scientific evidence may ultimately be counterproductive to public health.”

Officials involved with the United States’s Operation Warp Speed—the program tasked with expediting the creation of a vaccine for COVID-19—are discussing the merits of rationing the Moderna vaccine for adults aged 18–55, as is being discussed in the United Kingdom. This would be accomplished either by giving half doses of the first shot or delaying the immunization’s second shot, Moncef Slaoui, the head of OWS, tells ...

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Meet the Author

Lisa Winter
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Lisa joined The Scientist in 2017. As social media editor, some of her duties include creating content, managing interactions, and developing strategies for the brand’s social media presence. She also contributes to the News & Opinion section of the website. Lisa holds a degree in Biological Sciences with a concentration in genetics, cell, and developmental biology from Arizona State University and has worked in science communication since 2012.
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