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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to be used as booster jabs, and said Americans can now receive doses of vaccines that are different from the one they initially received, BBC News reports.

The news that mixing-and-matching will soon be allowed comes one month after the FDA authorised Pfizer booster jabs for some Americans, including those over 65 or at higher risk of severe illness and who work in frontline jobs.

However, the FDA's ruling still requires final approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before jabs can begin being delivered.

Less than 5% of Americans have so far received a booster jab, according to US health officials.

But with tens of millions of US residents already eligible for a third shot, many remain confused about boosters, who needs them and how they help.