NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Federal officials are expected to approve booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds on Monday, according to the New York Times.
Regulators with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are also reportedly looking to cut the time gap for booster shots to five months after a second dose, down from the current six months.
The Times reported the FDA will also authorize a booster shot for younger children between the ages of 5 and 11, who are immunocompromised.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee has also scheduled a meeting for next week to vote on the expected recommendations, according to the paper.
Sources did tell the Times that the FDA had hoped to announce its decision as early as Thursday but agreed to wait until Monday because CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky wanted to hear recommendations from an outside advisory group first.
The third dose could potentially help slow the rising number of children being hospitalized with the virus.
On Thursday, The Associated Press reported that the omicron variant has been putting children in the hospital in close to report numbers. In fact, During the week of Dec. 21-27, an average of 334 children 17 and under were admitted with coronavirus across the country.
The figure marked a 58% increase from the week prior, according to AP.
The CDC already approved Pfizer booster shots for 16 and 17-year-olds earlier this month, with Dr. Walensky saying data shows a third dose can dramatically increase protection against omicron.
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