Protect Their Future Applauds Bivalent Booster Approval for Children Under 5
December 9, 2022–Protect Their Future applauds the expanded approval for bivalent boosters for children under 5, an age group that has been continuously denied access to Covid-19 vaccines that other age groups have often taken for granted. With children’s hospitals overflowing due to the massive surge of cases in RSV, Covid-19, and influenza, the option to protect children with an updated booster is critical.
In order to receive the updated bivalent booster, children should have completed their full Moderna series two months prior or have had two Pfizer doses. Children under 5 who have had three shots of Pfizer’s vaccine are currently not eligible for a bivalent booster. Given the delays in approving the primary series for young children, most children who have had Pfizer’s three doses still have protection, and the delay between shots may provide a stronger immune response.
Many children in the Pfizer trials, however, completed their three shot series months ago, and they must also be eligible for bivalent shots. These children have provided an immense service to science and our communities by participating in trials, and we must not leave them behind.
In addition to vaccines, masks continue to be a simple and vital tool to prevent respiratory infections that are currently pummeling communities. This is even more critical for those who care for and spend time around children under 2, who cannot mask themselves and depend on others to keep them safe. Furthermore, increasing ventilation and clean air at daycares and schools is proven to have a huge impact in keeping children healthy and safe during this difficult winter surge.
As our hospitals fill up and children continue to be subjected to repeated Covid-19 infections, a bivalent booster offers one more layer of protection that has been available for all other age groups for several months. At this time, anyone eligible for the bivalent booster should get their shot as soon as possible in order to reduce risk of serious illness and long-term impacts from Covid-19.
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Protect Their Future is a grassroots group of physicians, parents, and activists advocating on behalf of young children and patients to ensure health leaders put kids first in public health policies. Follow us on Twitter at @PTF_org