The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Oct. 12 granted emergency authorization to Moderna and Pfizer for their updated COVID-19 boosters for younger children.
Children as young as 6 can now receive the Moderna booster, and children as young as 5 can now receive the Pfizer booster.
Previously, the Moderna booster was available to adults and the Pfizer booster was available to those 12 and older.
FDA officials suggested the emergency use authorizations were granted because the vaccines protect against hospitalization and severe illness.
“Vaccination remains the most effective measure to prevent the severe consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death,” Dr. Peter Marks, a top FDA official, said in a statement….