As omicron surges, the FDA has expanded access to Pfizer boosters for more teens

BOOSTERS. NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CDC THAT 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDSET G A BOOSTER SHOT OF THE PFIZER COVID VACCIN BUTE, NOT EVERYONE AGREES IT’S NECESSARY. I THINK IT IS JUST AS IMPORTT ANFOR 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS AS IT IS FOR YOUNG ADULT. >> I DON’T THINK THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE WE HAVE SEEN WANING IMMUNITY IN TEENAGERS, ESPECIALLY AGAINST WHAT MATTERS, SERIOUS DISEASE. KIM: THE RECOMMENDATION COMES AS CASES OF THE NEW OMICRON VARIANT ARE ON THE RISE. . CAMPBELL WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE EXPLAINS WHY A BOOSTER MIGHT HELP. THE ANTIBODIES THAT YOU MAKE AFTER A BOOSTERRE A STICKIER. THEY GRAB ONTO THE VIRUS BETTER. SO, EVEN CHANGESN I THE VIRUS THAT SINCE THEY ARE STICKIER, THEY TEND TO WORK BETTER. KIM: PFIZER REPORTED THAT A THDIR DEOS WORKS TO NEUTRALIZE THE OMICRON VARIANT ITHEN LABORATORY. BUT THE DOCTOR WITH THE JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE HEADLINE. >> WTHA IS OFTEN NOT REPORTED THAT PFIZER SAID IS THATWO T DOSESS SUFFICIENT AGAINST SERIOUS HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH. KIM: FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BOOSTER, THERE IS NO DATA ON HOW MIXING AND MATCHING BRANDS WILL WORK AGAINST THE OMICRON VARIANT. >> BUT YOU GET A VERY GOOD BOOST REGARDLESS OF WHICH ONE YOU USE. SO, WE ASSUME THAT BOOST WILL HELP WITH WHATEREV THE VARIANT IS. KIM: BOTTOM LINE, IT IS A CHOICE WHETRHE TO GET A BOOSTER OR ONE FOR YOUR TEENAGER BUT MORE IMPORTANT IS GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED IN THE FIRST PLACE. >> I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY REMEMBER THAT THIRD DOSES WILL NOT END THIS PANDEMIC. IT IS FIRST AND SECOND DOSES. KIM: DR. CAMPBELL SAYS THERE IS NO DATA YET BUT HE SAYS IT IS LIKELY THAT HEALTH OFFICIALS WILL EVENTUALLY RECOMMEND A THDIR SHOTOR F YOUNGER KIDS AS WELL

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters as it confronts the omicron surge, with the Food and Drug Administration allowing extra Pfizer shots for children as young as 12.Boosters already are recommended for everyone 16 and older, and federal regulators on Monday decided they’re also warranted for 12- to 15-year-olds once enough time has passed since their last dose.But the move, coming as classes restart after the holidays, isn’t the final step. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to recommend boosters for the younger teens. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC’s director, is expected to rule later this week.The FDA also said everyone 12 and older eligible for a booster can get one as early as five months after their last dose rather than six months.Vaccines still offer strong protection against serious illness from any type of COVID-19. But health authorities are urging everyone who’s eligible to get a booster dose for their best chance at avoiding milder breakthrough infections from the highly contagious omicron mutant.Children tend to suffer less serious illness from COVID-19 than adults. But child hospitalizations are rising during the omicron wave — most of them unvaccinated.The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech is the only U.S. option for children of any age. About 13.5 million 12- to 17-year-olds — just over half that age group — have received two Pfizer shots, according to the CDC.For families hoping to keep their children as protected as possible, the booster age limit raised questions.The older teens, 16- and 17-year-olds, became eligible for boosters in early December. But original vaccinations opened for the younger teens, those 12 to 15, back in May. That means those first in line in the spring, potentially millions, are about as many months past their last dose as the slightly older teens.As for even younger children, kid-size doses for 5- to 11-year-olds rolled out more recently, in November — and experts say healthy youngsters should be protected after their second dose for a while. But the FDA also said Monday that if children that young have severely weakened immune systems, they will be allowed a third dose 28 days after their second. That’s the same third-dose timing already recommended for immune-compromised teens and adults.Pfizer is studying its vaccine, in even smaller doses, for children younger than 5.

The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters as it confronts the omicron surge, with the Food and Drug Administration allowing extra Pfizer shots for children as young as 12.

Boosters already are recommended for everyone 16 and older, and federal regulators on Monday decided they’re also warranted for 12- to 15-year-olds once enough time has passed since their last dose.

But the move, coming as classes restart after the holidays, isn’t the final step. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to recommend boosters for the younger teens. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC’s director, is expected to rule later this week.

The FDA also said everyone 12 and older eligible for a booster can get one as early as five months after their last dose rather than six months.

Vaccines still offer strong protection against serious illness from any type of COVID-19. But health authorities are urging everyone who’s eligible to get a booster dose for their best chance at avoiding milder breakthrough infections from the highly contagious omicron mutant.

Children tend to suffer less serious illness from COVID-19 than adults. But child hospitalizations are rising during the omicron wave — most of them unvaccinated.

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech is the only U.S. option for children of any age. About 13.5 million 12- to 17-year-olds — just over half that age group — have received two Pfizer shots, according to the CDC.

For families hoping to keep their children as protected as possible, the booster age limit raised questions.

The older teens, 16- and 17-year-olds, became eligible for boosters in early December. But original vaccinations opened for the younger teens, those 12 to 15, back in May. That means those first in line in the spring, potentially millions, are about as many months past their last dose as the slightly older teens.

As for even younger children, kid-size doses for 5- to 11-year-olds rolled out more recently, in November — and experts say healthy youngsters should be protected after their second dose for a while. But the FDA also said Monday that if children that young have severely weakened immune systems, they will be allowed a third dose 28 days after their second. That’s the same third-dose timing already recommended for immune-compromised teens and adults.

Pfizer is studying its vaccine, in even smaller doses, for children younger than 5.

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