The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that children ages 5 to 11 receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine five months after their schedule. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination primary.
The centers are expanding eligibility for booster doses because since the pandemic began, more than 4.8 million children of this age have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 15,000 have required hospitalization and more than 180 have died.
“As cases rise across the country, a booster dose will safely help restore and improve protection against serious illness,” a CDC statement dated May 19 said.
In turn, the centers reinforce their recommendation that immunocompromised people over 12 years of age and those over 50 years of age receive a second booster dose at least four months after the first.
Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky , director of the CDC, indicated that she supported the ACIP vote to expand the eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine boosters. “Children aged 5 to 11 years should receive a booster dose at least five months after their primary series,” since the initial schedules in this population “have lagged behind other age groups, leaving them vulnerable to serious illnesses.” ”.
“With more than 18 million doses administered in this group, we know these vaccines are safe and we must continue to increase the number of children protected. “I encourage parents to keep their children up to date with the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations,” she added.
“With cases on the rise, it is important for everyone to have the protection they need, which is why today, the CDC has also reinforced another booster recommendation. Those over 50 years of age and those over 12 years of age and those who are immunocompromised should receive a second booster dose,” Walensky concluded.
