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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reports have indicated that the Food and Drug Administration is considering distributing half doses of the Moderna vaccine to younger patients in the hopes of inoculating more Americans.
Top officials in the FDA warn, however, that doing so could come with risks.
So far, just over 4 million Americans have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, which puts the U.S. far behind the 20 million dose schedule set for the end of 2030 by Operation Warp Speed.
The FDA said on Monday that considerations of altering the coronavirus vaccine schedule are “premature.”
The two coronavirus vaccines that have received emergency use authorization require two doses. For the Pfizer vaccine, the booster comes three weeks after vaccine administration. The Moderna vaccine requires the second dose four weeks after inoculation.
Data has shown that the two vaccines are at least 94 percent effective after the second dose is administered. To date, there is not enough data to estimate the effectiveness of a single dose, leaders from the FDA said.
“These are all reasonable questions to consider and evaluate in clinical trials,” FDA Commission Stephen Hahn and Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Peter Marks said in a joint statement.
“However, at this time, suggesting changes to the FDA-authorized dosing or schedules of these vaccines is premature and not rooted solidly in the available evidence. Without appropriate data supporting such changes in vaccine administration, we run a significant risk of placing public health at risk, undermining the historic vaccination efforts to protect the population from COVID-19.”
As of Monday, there are 4.5 million Americans who have received their first dose of one of the two coronavirus vaccines. It was not until Monday that some Americans began receiving a second dose of the vaccine.
But Marks and Hahn caution that foregoing the second dose of the vaccine could cause more harm than good without data to backup the effectiveness of the first dose.
“Using a single dose regimen and/or administering less than the dose studied in the clinical trials without understanding the nature of the depth and duration of protection that it provides is concerning, as there is some indication that the depth of the immune response is associated with the duration of protection provided,” they said.

After not finding a definitive answer from the Vermilion Parish Police Jury on Monday, Abbeville officials said on Tuesday they will continue to work to find a solution to an issue with an handful of “islands” that are within the city limits.
The islands are unincorporated areas completely surrounded by the city limits. An advertising company recently placed an
electronic billboard on one of those islands. That drew concern from some city officials, as the city does have an ordinance that prohibits such billboards.
Seeking some assistance from the police jury, as the islands fall under its jurisdiction, Mayor Mark Piazza, Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., Councilwoman Roslyn White and City Attorney Ike Funderburk attended Monday night’s police jury meeting.
“We had hoped that the police jury would adopt our sign and billboard ordinances,” Funderburk said during Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, “to be applied uniformly for the five inclosed islands.”
During its meeting on Monday, the police jury tabled the issue. Police Juror Scott Broussard, whose district includes the island with the electronic billboard on Park Avenue, said he will gather more information on the topic.
White, whose city district includes the area around the island with the billboard, said she is disappointed with Monday’s outcome.
“I was deeply upset by the lack of action,” White said during Tuesday’s meeting. “I found one study that showed if you live within 500 feet of a billboard, your property value can be decreased by up to $30,000.
“What you do on your property can affect your neighbors.”
White said she has spoken to people who live in that area.
“They want to write a letter to the police jury,” White said. “I would encourage them to do so.”
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr. said Tuesday that another year cannot go by with nothing being done in regard to these islands.
“We have to make this a priority,” Touchet said, “When we end this year, all of those islands have to be part of the city.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Funderburk showed a binder full of research he has done on this subject. He said he could not go into more detail during Tuesday’s meeting, but encouraged members of the council to meet with him.
“We are going to keep with the open meetings law,” Funderburk said. “What I am suggesting is meeting with me, the mayor and one or two council members at a time. We can go over goals and objectives. I can give you the benefit of the research that I have done to this point.
“We need to move on this quickly, because sunlight is burning, folks. We don’t have much time to get things done.”

Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza approached the Vermilion Parish Police Jury to ask them to create a sign ordinance for five unincorporated ‘islands” in the city limits.
Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza and two council members, Brady Broussard Jr. and Roslyn White, attended Monday night’s police jury meeting to ask if the police jury could create a special sign ordinance. The new ordinance would not allow electronic billboards on the four other unincorporated pieces of land in Abbeville.
“These islands have been in existence for many, many years,” said Piazza. “I do not think that Erath, Kaplan, or Gueydan have this same problem. It is unique to Abbeville.”
Piazza explained to the police jurors the” islands” were created more than 50 years ago. They are still unincorporated because the landowners never wanted to be in the city.
“The mindset with some jurors is that they do not want to tell people what they can do or can not do with their property,” added Piazza. “I can understand that. Remember, many of you live out in the country because it is not restricted, which is why people live in the city because they have restrictions.”
Mayor Piazza requested the police jury approve a moratorium that would immediately stop someone from placing another electronic billboard on one of the four remaining islands.
Piazza said by the police jury adopting a moratorium, it would allow the Abbeville police jurors and council members to sit down and figure out a way to stop future construction of electronic signs on the islands.
But the jurors did not agree with Piazza.
“At what point is the government going to stop telling people what they can do with their property?” asked police juror Errol Domingues, who lives south of Erath. “We have no industry left in Vermilion Parish. People want to advertise, and now we tell them how to advertise.”
Police Juror Scott Broussard, who has four islands in his district, said he took a survey in Abbeville about the new electronic billboard on Park Avenue in Abbeville. He said he heard many positives about the electronic sign, but there was some negative feedback.
“I asked people their opinion,” said Scott. “I think the jurors need to be better informed on the future of billboards in the parish. We need to study the issue, so I think we need to table it.”

NEW IBERIA — A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Renee Sellers Viator Dore, age 65, will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 from 8:00am to 9:00pm. Visitation will resume on Saturday, January 9,2021 at 8:00am until 11:00am. At that time, a Memorial Service will be held to honor Renee’s life. Private interment will be at a later date in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church Cemetery in Coteau.
A native of Abbeville and long-time resident of New Iberia, Renee was born on March 3, 1955 to James Harold Sellers and Jeanne Pavy Sellers. She was the eldest of 9 children. Renee passed away at home on Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 7:30am with her loving husband by her side.
Renee graduated from Vermillion Catholic High School in 1973. Renee’s striking beauty and vibrant personality led to her honor as Miss Abbeville in 1972. Renee became an LPN in 1992 after completing the program at Lafayette Regional Technical School. In 1999, she graduated from LSUE as a Registered Nurse.
Renee’s nursing vocation spanned some twenty years at Iberia Medical Center. Doing what she absolutely loved, Renee spent most of her time in Labor and Delivery. Her love of people then blossomed in a new direction, teaching in Christian Schools for several years. In the last chapter of her career, reminiscent of her days as a nurse, Renee was a caregiver for the elderly. Unmatched in generosity, she showered her patients with Love and concern.
She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Raymond Dore Jr. of Coteau; Three daughters, Heather Viator Burke of New Iberia, Angelique Viator of Broussard, Rosalyn Viator Green of Duson; Two sons, Derek Viator (Francine) of Lafayette, and Donovan Viator of Loreauville; Nine grandchildren, Darian Burke, Colton Burke, Brittany LeMaire, Megan LeMaire, Abbagail Viator, Mase Viator, Mylie Viator, David Green jr. and Daviah Green and her one beloved great-grandchild Kylie Gary; Seven sisters, Tina Marcantel (Peter) of Gold Canyon, AZ, Annette Goglia (Richard) of New Orleans, Josie Boudreaux (Bobby) of Prairieville, Susan Laughlin (Earl) of Lafayette, Monica Meche of Abbeville, Rachel Bordelon (Bryan) of Tomball, TX, Kathryn Naifeh (Jay) of Memphis, TN and one brother, James Sellers (Lisa) of Lafayette; One sister in law, Adele Dore Walls (Chuck) of Coteau, Mother in law, Rita Dore of Coteau, former husband, Roy J. Viator Jr. of New Iberia and numerous nieces and nephews, including her godchild, Travis Meche, for whom she loved very dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Harold Sellers and Jeanne Pavy Sellers of Abbeville, as well as several aunts and uncles, including her uncle, Dr. Donald Pavy of New Iberia, for whom she had a special place in her heart.
Renee was a lifelong diehard fan of the New Orleans Saints, win or lose, she was always devoted to her team. She loved spending time with her family and friends, reading from her library of books and picking fruits and vegetables from their backyard garden. She was a truly kind, generous and compassionate woman. She loved showering her family and friends with small, meaningful gifts given from her abundance of love for them. Her non-judgmental and accepting nature allowed Renee to be loved by everyone who got to know her. Through these attributes, she developed many loyal friendships over the years.
Special thanks go to Dr. Kurt O’Brian, the staff at Iberia Medical Center and the Kindred Home Care staff for the love and compassion they showed Renee in her final days.
Friends and family are invited to send condolences and/or sign the online guestbook at www.pellerinfuneral.com
Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements.