FDA Expected to Authorize COVID-19 Jab Booster For Children Ages 5 to 11 as Early as Tuesday

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize as early as Tuesday a COVID-19 jab booster for children ages 5 to 11, per The New York Times.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday to discuss COVID-19 boosters.

After the meeting, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky is expected to issue her own recommendation.

However, the public health agencies aren’t expecting a huge uptake of booster doses for this age bracket.

5-11-year-old children have the lowest COVID-19 inoculation rates of eligible age brackets.

Although they have been eligible for COVID shots since November, only 28.8 percent of children in this age group have received two doses.

Another six percent or so have received one shot.

FDA to authorize COVID-19 vaccine booster for children ages 5 to 11 as early as Tuesday – NYT

— BNO News (@BNOFeed) May 16, 2022

The FDA is expected as early as Tuesday to authorize a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children 5 to 11, according to people familiar with the plan. That would make those children the youngest Americans eligible for the additional shot. https://t.co/JEOJQZlh5v

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 16, 2022

FDA may clear boosters for ages 5-11 as soon as tomorrow, per NYT. (CDC has an advisory mtg Thursday to discuss #covid19 boosters; was unclear for whom but makes sense with this timing it would be for kids 5-11) https://t.co/ITintDajkL

— Meg Tirrell (@megtirrell) May 16, 2022

From The New York Times:

Some experts have suggested that because children 5 to 11 received a much lower initial dose than older children or adults, they are particularly in need of a booster shot. One study done by New York researchers found that for children ages 5 to 11, the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness against infection fell to 12 percent from 68 percent within 28 to 34 days after the second dose. Another C.D.C. study stated that two Pfizer doses reduced the risk of Omicron infection by 31 percent among those ages 5 to 11, compared with a 59 percent reduction in risk among those age 12 to 15.

So far, Pfizer’s vaccine is the only one that has been authorized for people younger than 18.

Moderna applied earlier this month for emergency authorization of its coronavirus vaccine for children 6 to 11.

Moderna is seeking clearance for an initial two-dose regimen, without a booster.