US FDA Authorises Pfizer Covid Booster Dose For Those Aged 16 & 17 Amid Omicron Threat

The authorisation to inoculate 16 and 17 year-olds with the booster shots came amid the ongoing threat of the worrisome new omicron variant.

(Representative Image/Getty)

Pfizer COVID Booster: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday expanded the booster shots against Covid-19, ruling that 16 and 17-year-olds can get a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine, news agency Reuters reported. 

The authorisation to inoculate 16 and 17 year-olds with the booster shots came amid the ongoing threat of the worrisome new omicron variant. Countries such as US have been administering booster dose of Covid-19 for adults to pump up immunity that can wane months after vaccination.

According to reports, US FDA gave green singal for the Emergency Use Authorisation for 16 and 17-year-olds for the third dose of the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech, but specified that one would only be eligible for the booster dose if it's been six months since their last shot.

Meanwhile, America's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must formally recommend the boosters for this age group and a decision is expected soon.

The development comes a month after the US allowed vaccinations for children as young as 5 just began last month, using special low-dose Pfizer shots. 

Currently, Pfizer vaccine is the only option available in the US for those less than 18 years, either for initial vaccination or for use as a booster. It is not yet clear if or when teens younger than 16 might need a third Pfizer dose.

Earlier this week, Pfizer claimed that the third dose of its mRNA vaccine can protect against the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Results from an initial laboratory study demonstrated that serum antibodies induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) neutralises the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after three doses, the company said in a statement.