Your questions, answered Now that boosters have been authorized for anyone over 18, is booster shot eligibility being considered for kids 12-17 who have already received two doses of Pfizer's vaccine? — Brian in Pennsylvania What about 16-17 year olds who have had 2 vaccines more than 6 months ago? They fall into a gap where boosters aren't yet recommended. — Sara Millions of teenagers have gotten the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine since health officials authorized the shots for kids 12 and over back in the spring. Officials are considering boosters for this age group, but more data on the safety and effectiveness of the additional doses is needed before they get the green light. Research is underway. Whether or not the guidance changes, it's important to remember that the risk of vaccinated youngsters getting severely ill is extraordinarily low. The two-shot regimen provides robust protection to adolescents, as well as children 5 to 11, who are also now eligible for the vaccine. "The Pfizer vaccine is strongly recommended for kids 5-17 years of age," said Beth Ebel, a pediatrician at the University of Washington, "and it works extremely well." Just this week, Pfizer released non-peer-reviewed data from its clinical trial showing two doses of the vaccine were 100 percent effective in kids ages 12 to 15. Researchers measured the vaccine's effectiveness in more than 2,200 adolescents from seven days through more than four months after the second dose. Zero symptomatic cases of covid-19 were reported in the group that got the vaccine. Thirty infections cropped up in the placebo group. Still, many pediatricians are looking forward to boosters for kids, according to Ebel, who told me she expects that children will eventually require additional shots. "As with most other well-established pediatric vaccines, it is most likely that booster shots will be needed in the future; immunity levels wane over time with the initial series," she said in an email. "A strong increase in antibody protection occurs following the booster dose." Pediatricians will watching the next steps closely. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long advocated for including children and pregnant people in vaccine trials, Ebel said, "so that we have the appropriate protection and safety data to guide decisions." For now, 12- to 17-year-olds who are immunocompromised are the only adolescents who qualify for a third shot. If you think your child falls into this category, consult with your doctor. Otherwise, Ebel said parents should hang tight. "Younger kids 5-11 and adolescents 12-17 have demonstrated great protection from COVID infection following completion of the two-dose immunizations," she said. "When studies are complete and results have been reviewed and approved by the CDC and FDA — that is when you should schedule the booster shot." The same goes for older teenagers, who should wait until after their 18th birthday to go in for their third dose. As long as it's been six months since their last shot, CDC guidance says they'll be fine getting any of the three vaccines authorized in the United States. "I can say that as a mother of two adolescents who were both vaccinated last spring as soon as it was approved, I am comfortable waiting to see if over time, based on the data, CDC recommendations change for their age groups," Melissa Stockwell, chief of Columbia University's division of child and adolescent health, told me. "In the meantime, they continue to take precautions such as social distancing and masks in schools." | 
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