FDA authorizes boosters for ages 16 and 17 ahead of holidays, omicron [Updated]

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Update 12/9/2021, 2:55 pm ET: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on the FDA’s authorization and now recommends booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for teens ages 16 and 17. This final step now means that boosting in this group can begin nationwide.

“Although we don’t have all the answers on the omicron variant, initial data suggests that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen the protection against Omicron and other variants,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and I strongly encourage adolescents ages 16 and 17 to get their booster if they are at least six months post their initial Pfizer vaccination series.”

Original Story, 12/9/2021, 12:21pm ET: The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use as a single booster dose in teens ages 16 and 17.