FDA Approves Covid Vaccine Booster for 12 to 15 Year Olds

NEW YORK, NY –– As the new year rings in its first week,  Pfizer and BioNTech have received FDA authorization to administer COVID-19 boosters for kids 12 to 15.

The vaccine currently has emergency use authorization for students in that age group. Children between the ages 5 and 11 who are immunocompromised will also be eligible.

“The booster vaccination increases the level of immunity and improves protection against COVID-19 across all age groups that have been authorized to receive one,” said Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. “In the current situation, it is important to offer all eligible individuals a booster, particularly against the backdrop of the newly-emerging variants such as Omicron.”

According to the statement released on Monday, the FDA has also reduced the time for administration of a booster dose from at least six months to at least five months following completion of the primary series for individuals 12 years of age and older.

“The recent rise in COVID-19 cases is concerning to all and today’s decision by the FDA to further expand the Emergency Use Authorization of a booster dose of our vaccine is critical to help us ultimately defeat this pandemic,” said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer. “We continue to believe that broad use of boosters is essential to preserving a high level of protection against this disease and reducing the rate of hospitalizations.”