FDA Authorizes Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booster for Children 12 to 15

Agency bypasses advisory panel, continuing recent trend

A 13-year-old boy gets the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a medical center in New Hyde Park, N.Y., on May 13, 2021. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Jan. 3 authorized a booster shot of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.

The agency stated that its scientists determined the booster’s benefits, including bolstering protection against virus infection, outweigh its potential risks in the population.