THE U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized the use of a third dose Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years of age.
Prior to their authorization, the vaccine was only approved for use for individuals 16 years of age or older.
In addition to this authorization, the FDA authorized the third shot for immunocompromised children five 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.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation on Tuesday said that 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 Tuesday afternoon, 95.2% of the eligible CNMI population five years of age or older, or 41,227 individuals, had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
15,329 additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered, of which 166 were administered to 16- to 17-year-olds.
13,100 have been administered to individuals in the 18- to 64-year-old age group and 2,063 to individuals 65 years old or older.
Booster shots are administered at least six months after an individual has received his/her primary Covid-19 vaccination series.
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.
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.
In a previous statement, CHCC Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna said as with any vaccine, the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine wanes over time, hence the need for booster doses.
For more information on Covid-19 vaccinations in the CNMI, contact (670) 682-SHOT (7468).
A vial labelled with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease vaccine is seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021.
