NEWS: FDA Approves Pfizer Booster for Ages 12-15

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to change and develop, AllEars will be bringing you the latest relevant news that could affect a theme park visit.

The new Omicron variant of coronavirus has brought COVID-19 into focus once again and prompted an increase in health and safety measures around the US and other countries.

Mask Rules Sign in Disney World

With the new variant, the CDC has recommended booster shots to increase immunity in people who are already vaccinated. In December, the booster shots were approved for everyone ages 16 and older. But there may be a booster available for younger kids soon.

According to Fox 35 Orlando, “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine booster for 12- to 15-year-olds.” This doesn’t mean that the booster is available now, as the CDC still needs to sign off its own approval for the booster shot before it can be given out.

Indoor Mask Sign at Disney World

But the FDA’s approval is a big step towards getting the booster out to younger kids. The FDA also said that everyone ages 12 and older can get the booster shot up as early as five months after their last vaccine dose. (That’s a month earlier than the previously recommended six month wait.)

Face mask signs

Pfizer is still the only vaccine option for anyone younger than 18 years old, and they began administering the vaccine to children ages 5 and older last month. So it will still be a while before very young kids are even eligible for a booster shot. Since the boosters are meant to increase immunity once the initial vaccine starts to wear out, the boosters are not necessarily helpful before about 5 or 6 months after your last vaccine dose.

Festival Cast Member

For individuals (children and adults) with compromised immune systems, optional third doses for vaccines are available upon recommendation from a healthcare professional. These third doses are part of the primary vaccine; they are not the same as the booster shots.

Updated face mask policy

The booster shots are available for anyone who had the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months previously (or 5 months, if the CDC approves the FDA’s recommendations). People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can get the booster shot 2 months after their last dose.