Officials hope CDC approval of boosters for all adults clears up confusion over the shots

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared the way Friday evening for coronavirus booster shots for all adults.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the shots for adults earlier Friday. West Virginia, Kentucky and at least eight other states, however, have already been giving the booster shots to eligible adults.

Complex rules, along with a choice of vaccines, created some public confusion, but health officials hope that streamlining the process over who can get the booster will end some of the confusion.

Dr. Clay Marsh, West Virginia’s coronavirus czar, said the booster benefits outweigh the risks of heart inflammation even for young, healthy men.

“Every agency - the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and we also - would say the risk of getting heart inflammation by getting fully vaccinated or getting a booster is far, far less than the risk of getting COVID-19 and having the risk of heart injury, hospitalization or even death,” Marsh said.

The vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are unvaccinated people, but West Virginia’s numbers on Friday showed nearly 26% of those hospitalized were vaccinated, and third shots have only been given to a fraction of those who had their first two.