Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children get a third dose to boost their immunity
The CDC says that children should get boosters as covid-19 makes its resurgence in the US.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has signed off on expanding covid-19 booster eligibility to children over 5-years old.
The health organisation conducted a vote this week on the issue. The panel voted 11-1-1 in favor of approval, so Walensky simply had to authorise the decision.
Children will be able to get their booster shot as soon as Friday.
“Children 5 through 11 should receive a booster dose at least 5 months after their primary series. Vaccination with a primary series among this age group has lagged behind other age groups leaving them vulnerable to serious illness,” Walensky said in a press release.
“With over 18 million doses administered in this age group, we know that these vaccines are safe, and we must continue to increase the number of children who are protected.,” she added.
As alluded to in her remarks, children make up the age group which is the least vaccinated. Will the latest CDC ruling have any impact on this?
Will this have any effect on encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated?
While this could be the start of a renewed push for youngsters to get their booster jab, more pressing for the CDC is the low take-up of even first doses in the 5 to 11-year old age group. Just 35.5 percent have had one jab, while only 28.9 percent have had two jabs according to data from the CDC. One age group higher, 12-17, have 69.2 percent and 59.3 percent respectively. Every other age group is much higher. How can this be reversed?
A reason parents could be hesitant is the belief that chidlren do not get as seriously ill from covid-19 as older groups. However, more than 15,000 children ages 5 to 11 have been hospitalized and at least 189 of them have died, CDC data shows.