The New Normal: Who can get COVID-19 boosters?

News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined this morning by Dr. Sharon Nachman to discuss COVID-19 boosters and vaccines for younger children.

News 12 Staff

Sep 24, 2021, 2:17 PM

Updated 1,165 days ago

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News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined this morning by Dr. Sharon Nachman to discuss COVID-19 boosters and vaccines for younger children.
Booster shots can start today. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky officially signed off on a third dose of Pfizer's vaccine for millions of Americans. But in a highly unusual move, she went further than the recommendations from the CDC's own panel of advisers. Who will be able to get the COVID-19 booster?
The CDC advisers expressed concern over the millions of Americans who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shots early in the vaccine rollout. The government still hasn't considered boosters for those brands and has no data on whether it is safe or effective to mix-and-match and give those people a Pfizer shot. Moderna has submitted its application to the FDA for its booster dose, and Johnson & Johnson has provided data but has not said when it will seek emergency use authorization.
Younger children, 5 to 11 years old, could be eligible for a vaccine by Halloween. But what questions need to be answered for parents so they feel it's safe and effective for their kids?