Media: US plans to allow teens to receive booster dose

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to broaden eligibility for coronavirus vaccine booster shots on Monday, allowing 12- to 15-year-olds to receive third doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine, Report informs, citing The New York Times.

Regulators are also expected to authorize an extra shot of Pfizer’s vaccine for both adolescents and adults five months after receiving a second dose instead of the current interval of six months. Younger children, ages 5 to 11, with immune deficiencies would be able to receive booster shots as well.

Children can better withstand coronavirus infections, but in rare instances, can still become very sick and even die. At least 1.8 million adolescents between 12 and 15 years old have tested positive for the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).