FDA expands eligibility for Pfizer booster to 16 & 17 olds

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the emergency use authorisation (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, authorising the use of a single booster dose for administration to individuals 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. According to FDA, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been available to individuals 16 years of age and older for nearly a year, and its benefits have been shown to clearly outweigh potential risks. The EUA for a single booster dose of the PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 and 17 years of age is based on the FDA’s previous analysis of immune response data that supported use of a booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older.