CDC expands COVID-19 booster recommendations to kids 12-15

The US Food and Drug Administration recently expanded the emergency use authorization for COVID-19 Pfizer/BioNTech booster to include pediatric patients aged 12 years and older, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation to expand boosters to include children aged 12 to 15 years.¹ The organization recommends that people aged 12 to 17 years receive a booster dose 5 months after undergoing the primary vaccine series.

In support of this expansion, CDC director, Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, said, “it is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease. We now recommend that all adolescents aged 12-17 years should receive a booster shot 5 months after their primary series. This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”

Reference

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC expands booster shot eligibility and strengthens recommendations for 12-17 year olds. Published January 5, 2022. Accessed January 10, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0105-Booster-Shot.html