The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) ACIP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) today recommended that 12- to 17-year-olds living in the United States should get the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot “at at least 5 months following an initial series of shots under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization.”
The CDC had previously recommended allowing the Pfizer booster for 16and 17-year-olds, but today’s recommendation includes the 12-15 age group, and also strengthens the “may” recommendation for the 16 and 17-year-olds to “should.”
The committee voted 13-1 in favor of the booster for ages 12-17.
Medscape Medical News reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on Monday, approved the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine first booster dose of covid-19 for 12- and 15-year-olds.
The FDA action changed the authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine The agency also reduced the recommended interval between a second dose and the booster to 5 months or more (from the previous 6 months) based on new evidence.
Additionally, a third primary dose of is now available to certain immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old. Tuesday’s CDC support for the 5-month timeline and a third primary dose for children who are immunocompromised 5-11 years. The CDC put off a decision about an increase in doses for 12- and 15-year-olds until it had feedback from ACIP today.
The decision was taken as districts across the nation are battling to decide whether to shut down schools or switch to virtual formats when new cases arise.
Marcia Frellick, a Chicago-based freelance journalist, is Marcia Frellick. She has previously written for the Chicago Tribune, Science News and Nurse.com as well as served as an editor at the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and the St. Cloud (Minnesota) Times. Follow her on Twitter @mfrellick
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