YCCHS Update:
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer bivalent vaccine for ages 5-11 years and the Moderna bivalent vaccine for ages 6-17 years. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today signed a decision memo expanding use of these updated boosters.
Children ages 5 and older may now receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters targeting Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 as well as the original coronavirus.
This is important news for parents of kids in this age group who are vaccinated, as this bivalent booster includes
protection against the highly transmissible and immune-evading variants that dominate today and boosts immune protection that wanes with time. Children have a much lower risk than older adults of developing severe illness from COVID-19, but the vaccine is
safe and effective and can now be given earlier. In addition, children share the risk of developing long COVID and
can pass COVID-19 to more vulnerable people.
If you’re in doubt, please consult your child’s health care
provider.
You’ll find hundreds of providers at azhealth.gov/FindVaccine. You can also schedule your vaccine or booster
appointments at any of the YCCHS locations.
Original source can be found here.
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