The debates on booster shots have become a new normal in the USA with different opinions and judgments prevailing. Many medical experts were in favor of approving booster shots for all the adults and last Friday The FDA and US CDC approved and passed the rule. Any one of 18 years and above age by determining the need and requirement for the booster shot can visit the nearby hospital, clinic, or pharmacy authorized to give booster shots.
Booster Shots For Adolescents Will Depend On The Future Circumstances
In May 2021, when the covid cases started to rise in the United States the young children between 12-15 years were more prone to the virus and the health authorities were under immense pressure to safeguard the lives of these children.
At that point in time, Pfizer also applied for the approval of emergency use of the covid vaccine for the kids of 12-15 years in the US. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of Pfizer vaccine for the particular age group to immune them safely.
A press release by CDC on May 12 stated that The Advisory committee of CDC recommends the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 12-15 years old adolescents. The committee found the vaccine effective and safe. CDC recommended and authorized the medical authorities to start vaccinating the children on an urgent basis.
Now the decision taken by the CDC to immunize such a population in May was bold and it was the only way to keep children safe from the virus and bring normalcy to the country.
With the rolling out of booster shots for all the adults, there are assumptions that the CDC might approve the booster shots eligibility for the age group of 12-15 years.
When the FDA and CDC approved vaccines for kids between 5-11 years, many parents demanded to expand the booster shot eligibility for adolescents.
As some medical researchers and studies found that the efficiency and effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are reducing with time and this has also increased the covid cases amongst the vaccinated population in the United States. Though some health agencies have blamed the unvaccinated citizens for the surge in the Covid 19 cases.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, The Chief Medical Adviser to the Federal Government and also the Director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases explained why the 12-15 age children don’t need booster shots now, but might in the future.
He said that the immunity power of adolescents is strong if compared to the older population in the States and if we talk about the effectiveness of 2 dose vaccines amongst the adult population, it has started to diminish and the vaccine saturation level in the 12-15 age group will come after a long time period.
He also said that the current data and analysis available are not in favor of availing booster shots for adolescents. We are just focusing on vaccinating the entire population and if needed we will surely recommend booster shots for this age group too.
