CDC Director Rochelle Walensky signed off on the booster shots hours after the agency’s independent panel of vaccine scientists unanimously endorsed opening up eligibility to everyone 18 and older at least six months after they received their second dose.

“After critical scientific evaluation, today’s unanimous decision carefully considered the current state of the pandemic, the latest vaccine effectiveness data over time, and review of safety data from people who have already received a COVID-19 primary vaccine series and booster,” Walensky said in a statement Friday evening.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to agree before the new policy became official late Friday. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed a recommendation from her agency’s scientific advisors that — in addition to offering all adults a booster — stressed that people 50 and older are urged to get one.

Older adults benefit the most from a booster, according to the panel, as they are more vulnerable to severe symptoms of the disease.

Studies showed that booster doses can increase antibody levels, which may reduce people’s ability to contagion by making it harder for them to become infected.

mh/pll/mem/age