FDA declares Pfizer vaccine booster can be administered to all individuals 12 and older
Ruling also shortens time required between the initial two shots and the booster to five months
Earlier today, the FDA amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by expanding the use of a single booster dose to include use in adolescents 12 through 15 years of age.
Further, the organization’s latest ruling shortens the time required between the two-dose regimen of this particular Covid vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months, as opposed to six. It also allows for a third shot for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years of age.
“Throughout the pandemic, as the virus that causes Covid-19 has continuously evolved, the need for the FDA to quickly adapt has meant using the best available science to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind,” says Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, MD. “With the current wave of the Omicron variant, it’s critical that we continue to take effective, life-saving preventative measures, such as primary vaccination and boosters, mask wearing and social distancing in order to effectively fight Covid-19.”
This coming Wednesday, Jan. 5, a panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to discuss this exact issue—whether to officially recommend boosters for the 12–15-year-old group.
