The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that it approved Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine boosters for children as young as 12.
The FDA had previously approved booster shots for anyone age 16 and above. (RELATED: Did Even a Single Child Die From COVID-19 in Your State?)
The decision comes as the omicron variant is rapidly spreading around the U.S. and complicating plans for students to return to classrooms following winter breaks. Booster shots previously were recommended for everyone age 16 and older.
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“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,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement.
“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,” she added.
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In making its decision, the FDA says it “determined that the protective health benefits of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to provide continued protection against COVID-19 and the associated serious consequences that can occur including hospitalization and death, outweigh the potential risks in individuals 12 through 15 years of age.”
