The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approves Pfizer boosters for ages 16 and 17. | File photo
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approves Pfizer boosters for ages 16 and 17. | File photo
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave its approval for booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNtech to be given to 16- and 17-year-olds for emergency use. An estimated 2.6 million U.S. teens in this age group would be eligible for boosters already — a small addition to the 141 million adults already eligible for boosters.
The approval from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky came only hours after the Food and Drug Administration signed off on third shots for the age group, NBC News reported. Booster shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson were previously approved for all adults.
“Booster shots are recommended across eligible age groups because they help maximize immunity to the virus,” the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital posted on its Facebook page.
Walensky said initial data indicate a third shot will help strengthen protection against omicron and other variants.
"We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective," she said, urging older teens to get the booster, NBC News reported.
The Pfizer booster is available to 16- and 17-year-olds at least six months after they received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer's vaccine and booster shots are the only ones that have been cleared for use in children under 18. Mixing vaccines and boosters is not an option for this age group. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for those age 18 and up.
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