El Paso begins COVID-19 booster application to children

EL PASO – As a result of the increase in cases of the Omicron variant, the city of El Paso, Texas announced that it will begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine against Covid-19 to children between 12 and 15 years old, as well as a third dose for children from 5 to 11 years immunocompromised.

The El Paso City Council indicated that the measure will be effective immediately at all vaccination sites in the city, by appointment only. Just last January 12, Mayor Oscar Leeser and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego indicated that the Omicron variant represents more than 90% of the Covid-19 cases in the region.

During the pandemic 186,830 positive cases and 3,110 deaths have been reported in the city of El Paso, of these, 645 infections and 6 deaths were reported on January 13, 2022. In addition, approximately 11,796 cases remain active, while 494 people are hospitalized, 134 of them in intensive care, according to the epstrong.org website.

Booster vaccines will be available five months after an eligible person has received his or her second dose. Third applications for severely immunocompromised children aged 5 to 11 years, should be administered 28 days after the second inoculation.

Health authorities warned that parental or guardian consent is required for the vaccination of children, so they can make an appointment at www.EPCovidVaccine.com.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also authorized persons who received the Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to receive the booster 5 months after receiving their second dose.

The booster interval recommendation for persons who received the J&J vaccine remains 2 months. “We are very pleased to be able to offer an additional layer of protection and further safeguard our young children from serious complications from Covid-19 infection,” said Hector Ocaranza, City Health Department.

“Vaccination is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children’s health. We should also continue to practice other measures such as using a face shield, respecting social distancing and making frequent hand washing a habit,” he said.

Source: MEXICO-NOW Staff