The U.S. has authorized updated COVID-19 boosters for children as young as 5, seeking to expand protection ahead of an expected winter wave. Boosters modified to target today’s most common omicron relative rolled out for Americans 12 and older last month.
“We want to have the best of both worlds,” Pfizer’s Dr. Bill Gruber, a pediatrician, told The Associated Press. He hopes the updated shots will “re-energize interest in protecting children for the winter.”
Only people who’ve gotten their initial vaccinations -- with any of the original-formula versions -- qualify for an updated booster. That means about three-fourths of Americans 12 and older are eligible. As of last weekend, only at least 13 million had gotten an updated booster, White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha estimated Tuesday.To pediatricians’ chagrin, getting children their first vaccinations has been tougher.
Until now, Moderna’s updated booster was cleared only for adults. Wednesday’s FDA action authorized the booster for teens as well as children as young as age 6.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FDA clears updated COVID boosters for kids as young as 5Officials hope to expand protection against an expected winter surge.
Read more »
FDA clears updated COVID boosters for kids as young as 5The U.S. is about to offer updated COVID-19 booster shots to kids as young as 5
Read more »
Covid-19 Boosters Targeting Omicron Authorized for Kids as Young as 5The FDA’s decision broadens a campaign by health officials to bolster protection against the Omicron strains of the coronavirus.
Read more »
Could New COVID Variants Spark Wave Similar to Omicron Last Winter?For the last few months, experts had expressed optimism that the BA.5 variant represented nearly all COVID cases as new COVID booster shots, specifically designed to target that variant, rolled out.
Read more »
Illinois Coronavirus Updates: New COVID Booster Shot Timing, Contagious PeriodHere’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today.
Read more »