Yes, COVID vaccine boosters for children are safe

Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for children between the ages of 5 and 11 who received their second vaccine shot at least five months ago. So far, only the Pfizer –BioNTech booster has been authorized for those in this age group.“While it has largely been the case that COVID-19 tends to be less severe in children than adults,” said FDA commissioner Robert Califf in a statement, “the omicron wave has seen more kids getting sick with the disease and being hospitalized, and children may also experience longer-term effect s, even following initially mild disease.”The booster can provide kids with an extra dose of protection, experts say, especially with overall cases and hospitalization rising across the country.To provide accurate information about the newly approved third shot and to help allay the concerns of parents, Dr. Annabelle de St. Maurice, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases and co-chief infection prevention officer for UCLA Health, answered some questions about the safety of the booster and why getting one is important.Is the booster safe?Yes. The FDA has authorized the booster for children based on an evaluation of the risks and benefits, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has also recommended the new booster dose.Children get a lower dose of the COVID-19 vaccine than adults. Is it the same w...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news