Teen receives COVID vaccine.Photo: Matthew Hatcher/GettyAs the omicron variant of COVID-19 continuesto surge across the countryand globe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its recommendation for booster shot eligibility.On Wednesday, theCDC tweetedthat vaccine boosters are now recommended for everyone ages 12 years and older. “At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for teens ages 12 to 17,” the announcement continued.In amedia statement, the recommendation specified that “adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.“The CDC also referenced data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents, finding that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to be safe and effective.“It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in the release.“This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant,” she later added. “I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.“RELATED VIDEO: FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer’s COVID VaccineNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.As the omicron variant has changed the scope of the pandemic in recent weeks,researchers last month tested the variantagainst the antibodies of people who received various COVID-19 vaccines.The findings showed that all the vaccines are less effective with omicron than earlier variants like delta.One study from the U.K.found that while omicron reduces immunity from the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series to just 34% effectiveness in preventing infection, getting a booster dose brings that protection back up to 75%.And while the vaccine was less effective at preventing infection from omicron, it is still shownto prevent serious illnessfrom the variant that could lead to hospitalization or death, according to researchers.Many cases of omicron in vaccinated people have been mild or asymptomatic, with patients recovering within three days,according to a large study from South Africa.After an incubation period of three to four days, patients first reported experiencing a scratchy throat, which then transitions into nasal congestion, a dry cough and muscle aches and pains.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Teen receives COVID vaccine.Photo: Matthew Hatcher/Getty
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continuesto surge across the countryand globe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its recommendation for booster shot eligibility.On Wednesday, theCDC tweetedthat vaccine boosters are now recommended for everyone ages 12 years and older. “At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for teens ages 12 to 17,” the announcement continued.In amedia statement, the recommendation specified that “adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.“The CDC also referenced data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents, finding that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to be safe and effective.“It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in the release.“This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant,” she later added. “I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.“RELATED VIDEO: FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer’s COVID VaccineNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.As the omicron variant has changed the scope of the pandemic in recent weeks,researchers last month tested the variantagainst the antibodies of people who received various COVID-19 vaccines.The findings showed that all the vaccines are less effective with omicron than earlier variants like delta.One study from the U.K.found that while omicron reduces immunity from the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series to just 34% effectiveness in preventing infection, getting a booster dose brings that protection back up to 75%.And while the vaccine was less effective at preventing infection from omicron, it is still shownto prevent serious illnessfrom the variant that could lead to hospitalization or death, according to researchers.Many cases of omicron in vaccinated people have been mild or asymptomatic, with patients recovering within three days,according to a large study from South Africa.After an incubation period of three to four days, patients first reported experiencing a scratchy throat, which then transitions into nasal congestion, a dry cough and muscle aches and pains.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continuesto surge across the countryand globe, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its recommendation for booster shot eligibility.
On Wednesday, theCDC tweetedthat vaccine boosters are now recommended for everyone ages 12 years and older. “At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for teens ages 12 to 17,” the announcement continued.
In amedia statement, the recommendation specified that “adolescents age 12 to 17 years old should receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.”
The CDC also referenced data following the administration of over 25 million vaccine doses in adolescents, finding that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters continue to be safe and effective.
“It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease,” CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in the release.
“This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant,” she later added. “I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”
RELATED VIDEO: FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
As the omicron variant has changed the scope of the pandemic in recent weeks,researchers last month tested the variantagainst the antibodies of people who received various COVID-19 vaccines.
The findings showed that all the vaccines are less effective with omicron than earlier variants like delta.
One study from the U.K.found that while omicron reduces immunity from the two-dose Pfizer vaccine series to just 34% effectiveness in preventing infection, getting a booster dose brings that protection back up to 75%.
And while the vaccine was less effective at preventing infection from omicron, it is still shownto prevent serious illnessfrom the variant that could lead to hospitalization or death, according to researchers.
Many cases of omicron in vaccinated people have been mild or asymptomatic, with patients recovering within three days,according to a large study from South Africa.
After an incubation period of three to four days, patients first reported experiencing a scratchy throat, which then transitions into nasal congestion, a dry cough and muscle aches and pains.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
