The United States is ready to roll out Covid-19 vaccine booster shots next week but only if health regulators approve the plan, White House officials have said.

“We've been working through the last few weeks, intensely with our partners, our governors, state, and local health officials, federal pharmacy programmes, the community health centres to ensure that we are ready for next week,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said at a briefing, according to Reuters.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told reporters boosters will be available once the FDA and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention approve the plan.

“We have always said that this initial plan would be contingent on the FDA and the CDC's independent evaluation. We will follow that evaluation and their recommendations. We will make sure our final plan reflects it,” he said.