A key federal advisory committee voted unanimously Thursday to recommend emergency authorization of a booster shot for older and more vulnerable recipients of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, a sign that millions of Americans who received their second Moderna dose at least six months ago will likely be cleared for a third jab as soon as next weekend.

The Food and Drug Administration panel also expressed openness to eventually greenlighting boosters for younger and less vulnerable recipients of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines — a crucial Biden administration goal.

For months, the White House has cited data from Israel, the first nation to offer third shots to all residents over the age