Status: 03.01.2022 5:26 p.m.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed BioNTech boosters from the age of twelve. These could be done as early as five months after the last immunization. The reason for this is concern about Omikron.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the go-ahead for booster vaccinations against the coronavirus for children aged twelve and over. The vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer is to be used for this purpose. The previous emergency approval for boosters has been extended to children and adolescents between the ages of twelve and 15 inclusive, the FDA said.
The authority also shortened the period between the second dose of the BioNTech vaccine and the booster from six to five months. It also allowed a third vaccination for children between five and eleven years with a severely weakened immune system, for example because of an organ transplant.
Recommendation is based on data from Israel
Up until now, third-party vaccinations with the vaccine from the Mainz-based company were allowed from the age of 16 in the USA. FDA executive Janet Woodcock said the rapid spread of the omicron variant made it necessary “to take effective and life-saving preventive measures such as vaccinations and boosters, mask-wearing and keeping your distance to combat Covid-19 effectively”.
One of the directors in charge said the agency was making the recommendation primarily because a refresher would offer better protection against both the Delta and Omikron variants. Data from booster vaccinations among children in Israel have shown that there are no serious medical risks. The extra dose for children is harmless even if it is given five months after the second vaccination.
Omikron is rampant among children
Experts have long been pushing for everyone to get a booster as early as possible to protect themselves from Omikron. According to previous knowledge, the virus variant causes milder disease processes, but is extremely contagious. The number of admissions to hospitals because of Omikron is skyrocketing, especially among children. Many are not vaccinated.
Following the recommendation of the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have yet to approve the move. A decision is expected this week. According to the CDC, around 13.5 million 12 to 17 year olds have received two doses of the vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer, just over half of the minors in that age group.