Buzz
Yesterday, the FDA and CDC announced that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine can now be used as a booster for 16- and 17-year-olds. Until now, boosters were only approved for those 18 and older.
Pfizer, as you may remember, was the first COVID vaccine to be authorized—and is now fully approved—for individuals 16 and up (and is also emergency-use authorized for children aged 5-15). Other vaccines are for those 18 and older. But booster guidelines previously excluded 16- and 17-year-olds, until now.
The CDC recommendations now state that all individuals aged 18 and over should receive a booster, while 16- and 17-year-olds can get one. (The language surrounding boosters has become more definitive with each update. Initially, people over 65 were advised to get a booster, while most others were told they could if they wanted.)
The vaccine options for teens differ slightly from those for adults, as Pfizer is the only COVID vaccine authorized for individuals under 18:
If you're over 18 and received Pfizer or Moderna initially, you can opt for any vaccine as a booster.
If you're 16 or 17, you would have received Pfizer, and your only booster option is Pfizer.
Children under 16 are still not recommended for a booster, though this may change in the future.
If you (or your child) got the Pfizer vaccine at age 17 and are now 18, you don't need to stick with Pfizer for your booster. The current recommendations are based on your age, so 18-year-olds who originally received Pfizer can choose any available booster. As with adults, boosters should be administered at least six months after completing the primary vaccination series.
With new evidence suggesting that boosters can enhance immunity against Omicron in addition to earlier variants, now is the ideal time to get your booster if you're due—and you might want to consider getting a flu shot at the same time.
