Released: January 5, 2022
On Wednesday, January 5, the PA Department of Health confirmed that children ages 12 and older are now eligible for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose five months after completing the primary series. The five-month booster interval was updated from the previous authorization of six months and is applicable to anyone 12 years of age and older who received the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for their primary vaccination series.
As a result, Delaware County will begin offer Pfizer boosters to children 12+ immediately.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to allow for a third primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 to 11 years old, at least 28 days following the second dose.
Children between the ages of 5 and 11 who are fully vaccinated and are not immunocompromised are not eligible for a third dose at this time, but the Department of Health continues to review relevant information and studies from the FDA and CDC.
The complete press release is available on the PA Department of Health website at https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=1702