THE U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday amended its recommendations for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 booster shot, shortening the interval from the second dose to just five months.
Prior to this recommendation, booster shots were administered at least six months after an individual has received his/her primary Covid-19 vaccination series.
The CDC also recommended that moderately or severely immunocompromised children 5 to 11 years of age receive an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine 28 days after their second dose.
Only the Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose is currently authorized for 16- to 17-year-olds.
The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses are only authorized for individuals at least 18 years of age.
The booster dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is administered at least six months after the second dose, while the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is administered at least two months after the second dose.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years of age.
In addition to this authorization, the FDA authorized the third shot for immunocompromised children 5 to 11 years old.
This development comes as the nation grapples with the ongoing surge of cases positive for the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
A panel of expert advisors to the CDC is due to meet Thursday to discuss the use of a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years of age.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday said its immunization team was looking into implementing these third doses to these younger age groups as soon as possible.
State, national, and global health officials have urged individuals to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
Of the 18 Covid-19-related deaths in the CNMI since March 28, 2020, none of the decedents had received a booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 95.7% of the eligible CNMI population 5 years of age or older, or 41,317 individuals, had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
An additional 15,442 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered, 167 of which were administered to 16- to 17-year-olds.
There were 13,207 doses that had been administered to individuals in the 18- to 64-year-old age group and 2,068 doses to individuals 65 years old or older.
As of Tuesday, the CNMI no longer had the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine available for 5- to 11-year-olds, as it is waiting for its next shipment of Covid-19 vaccines.
For more information on Covid-19 vaccinations in the CNMI, contact (670) 682-SHOT (7468) or visit the new CNMI Covid-19 Center at the Koblerville Youth Center.
