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FDA authorizes COVID-19 booster for kids between the ages of 5 and 11

By Haley Ryan

Posted May 19, 2022

Image of gloved hands administering a COVID-19 vaccine in a persons arm.

The CDC recommends everyone ages 5 and up get vaccinated to help protect against COVID-19 according to their website. (Joey Mendolia WFIU/WTIU News)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, authorized a COVID-19 booster-shot for healthy children between the ages of 5 and 11 on Tuesday according to the Associated Press.

U.S. regulators are hoping the extra dose of vaccine will enhance this age group’s protection as infections rise again.

Dr. Tom Hrisomalos, an infectious disease physician with IU Health, said the first booster provides significantly increased protection against infection and serious disease.

“So that third shot is really key to provide some longer lasting immunity for all age groups, especially the elderly, but the younger folks as well,” Hrisomalos said.

The FDA’s authorization now opens a third shot of Pfizer’s vaccine to elementary aged kids at least five months after their last dose according to the AP. 

When thinking about a vaccine for a child, Hrisomalos said both the risks and benefits must be considered. The benefits, he said, don’t just include protecting the child against a significant illness but also keeping the child well.

“So they can remain in school,” Hrisomalos said. “You're keeping the child from transmitting disease to family and other classmates who may not be as healthy and may be at risk for greater consequences or illnesses.”

The bar for approval is also higher for younger age groups because they’re in a lower risk category Hrisomalos said.

“They're looking for extra confirmation and assurance that the vaccine side effects are not greater than the benefit that it would create,” Hrisomalos said.

According to the AP, only about 30% of kids ages 5 to 11 have had the initial two Pfizer doses since vaccinations opened to them in November.

Hrisomalos said the people who have been the least vaccinated are the younger populations and young kids due to the perceived smaller benefit.

“But young kids still get significantly ill,” Hrisomalos said. “And there have been plenty of pediatric hospitalizations, and there have been systemic inflammatory response syndrome reactions and so it's not a benign illness.” 

And even though most young kids who get COVID recover well, Hrisomalos said, it’s unknown if it may have other long term side effects.

“We do have a very effective vaccine,” Hrisomalos said. “And it's being analyzed and looked at very carefully, especially for young kids.”

COVID-19 vaccines are pretty well understood, Hrisomalos said. And as data continues to come out, guidelines and recommendations are continually modified and changed.

“They're continuing to watch this intensely, not only here in the United States, but around the world.” Hrisomalos said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, must decide whether to formally recommend the booster for this age group according to the AP. Their scientific advisors are scheduled to meet Thursday.

Also, the FDA is expected to review data from Pfizer or Moderna, or both, sometime next month as both companies have been studying their vaccine in young children.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.