The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended eligibility for the Pfizer booster / 3rd dose to people aged 16 and 17.
The emergency permit from the FDA comes after initial data from South African scientists and Pfizer indicate that the effectiveness of the vaccine is declining compared to Omicron after the two vaccinations.
BREAKING: US FDA authorizes Pfizer booster for 16- and 17-year-olds pic.twitter.com/HUhcrFInf7
- Reuters (@Reuters) December 9, 2021
However, initial laboratory data from Pfizer showed that a booster dose of the vaccine provided significant protection against Omicron, with a virus-fighting ability commensurate with the 95% protection of vaccine doses against the original strain of the virus.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must approve the booster dose for 16- and 17-year-olds before vaccination can begin. It is recalled that the CDC approved the booster dose for all adults 18 years and older last month.
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