US FDA Approves COVID Booster Shot for Adolescents Aged 16 and Older

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The United States has expanded the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots from adults aged 18 and over to adolescents aged 16 and over.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the 9th (local time) approved the emergency use of booster shots for 16-17-year-old adolescents who completed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine more than six months ago.

Following the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will recommend booster shots, after which actual vaccinations will begin.

The New York Times estimated that about 3 million 16-17-year-old adolescents received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine six months ago and are expected to receive booster shots within this month.

The Pfizer vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine approved for 16-17-year-olds in the United States. The Moderna vaccine is only available for adults.

Pfizer announced the day before that booster shots are necessary to prevent the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, in the United States, booster shots were authorized for all adults aged 18 and over on the 19th of last month. So far, nearly 50 million people, one-quarter of those who completed vaccination, have received booster shots.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.