Michael Erman, Manas Mahra

(Reuters) – A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel will be meeting Thursday to consider whether or not to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 5–11, a age group with only 29% of those vaccinated.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved booster doses for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination to those children. This is because COVID cases in America are increasing again.

Experts suggested that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunizing Practices (ACIP), while recommending boosters for some age groups, may refrain from recommending all children get them.

Omicron and Omicron like variants may have caused some children’s illness, but this has been lower than Delta. Therefore, there is no need for a booster. As the liaison for ACIP, Dr. William Schaffner from National Foundation for Infectious Diseases is said.

Data submitted by the companies to FDA showed that the third dose of the vaccine produced a strong immune reaction against Omicron variant in children aged between five and eleven years.

It is rare to get severe disease in this age group, particularly if you have had two shots.

Paul Offit is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Expert at Children’s Hospital Philadelphia. He said that boosters may have little impact on pandemic. They might offer short-term protection against minor illnesses, and extra protection against severe disease in at-risk children.

Based on evidence that vaccine immunity declines over time, the government is pushing to give eligible Americans a boost.

If ACIP approves, Rochelle Walensky (CDC Director) is likely to support the recommendations.

Only a little over 8 million children between 5 and 11 years old in the United States are fully vaccinated by two doses Pfizer/BioNTech shots. Children below 5 years old are not eligible for them.

Already, companies are looking at the possibility of a new COVID vaccine for fall.

It is worth investing in these kids now, for a low risk period. Before you recommend another booster next fall. asked Schaffner.