Covid boosters expanded in California to teenagers
CALIFORNIA – In cities such as San Diego and Los Angeles, boosters against Covid-19 may be given to anyone over 12 years of age who has completed their basic vaccination schedule at least five months ago; also, for certain immunocompromised children between 5 and 11 years of age.
The California government reported that the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup completed its review of the federal process and recommended expanding the eligibility of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose.
With the above, anyone 12 years of age or older who completed their primary vaccination series at least five months ago will be able to receive their booster. In addition, federal authorization of a third dose for children 5 to 11 years of age with comorbidity was also confirmed.
The Workgroup provided its confirmation to the governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, the states where the new measures may be implemented.
After the analyses carried out by this working group, it was determined not only to expand the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster to include teenagers between 12 and 15 years of age, but also to shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination and the third dose to at least five months and not six months as originally recommended by the U.S. health authorities.
On January 3, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the expanded use of the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine and the CDC confirmed these decisions last Wednesday.
Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California in the Covid-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October 2020. That alliance, made up of nationally renowned scientists with expertise in immunization and public health, has simultaneously and independently reviewed FDA actions related to coronavirus vaccines. “It’s simple, vaccines save lives. Everyone over the age of 12 should keep their immunity strong and protect themselves and their families against Covid-19, including the highly transmissible Omicron variant, by receiving a booster dose,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.
Source: MEXICO-NOW Staff