On January 4, 2022, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued two COVID-19 related recommendations following actions by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). First, American Indians and Alaska Natives who received the Pfizer Bio-NTech COVID-19 vaccine as their primary series are now recommended to get their booster after 5 months, instead of 6 months. Second, moderately, or severely immunocompromised Native youth ages 5-11 should receive an additional dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 28 days after their second shot.
The FDA also authorized booster shots for Native youth ages 12-15. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is currently meeting (January 5, 2022) to further discuss these recommendations. Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribal healthcare providers are reminded to wait for the CDC recommendation before administering booster shots to children in this age group.
Read the CDC media statement here.