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u.s. news Diabierna 20 Mei 2022

CDC advisers urge Pfizer booster for children ages 5 to 11

By LAURAN NEER- Tech currently make the only
GAARD COVID-19 vaccine available
AP Medical Writer for children of any age in the
Kids ages 5 to 11 should U.S. Those ages 5 to 11 re-
get a booster dose of Pfiz- ceive a dose that’s one-third
er’s COVID-19 vaccine, the amount given to every-
advisers to the U.S. gov- one 12 and older.
ernment said Thursday. In a small study, Pfizer found
a booster revved up those
If the Centers for Disease kids’ levels of virus-fighting
Control and Prevention antibodies — including those
agrees, as expected, it would able to fight the super-conta-
open a third COVID-19 shot gious omicron variant — the
to healthy elementary-age same kind of jump adults get
kids — just like what is al- from an extra shot.
ready recommended for ev- Vaccines may not always pre-
erybody 12 and older. vent milder infections, and
The hope is that an extra shot the omicron variant proved
will shore up protection for especially able to slip past
kids ages 5 to 11 as infections their defenses. But CDC cit-
once again are on the rise. ed data during the omicron
Earlier this week, the Food surge that showed unvacci-
and Drug Administration nated 5- to 11-year-olds had
authorized Pfizer’s kid-sized twice the rate of hospitaliza-
booster, to be offered at least tion as youngsters who got
five months after the young- adults that two primary vac- Dr. Doran Fink of the Food opened to them in Novem- their first two doses.
sters’ last shot. cinations plus a booster are and Drug Administration ber. Health authorities say for
The CDC takes the next step providing the best protection said the agency is working “as CDC adviser Dr. Helen all ages, the vaccines are still
of recommending who actu- against the newest coronavi- rapidly as we can” to evalu- Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt offering strong protection
ally needs vaccinations. Its rus variants. ate an application from vac- University said health au- against COVID-19’s worst
advisers debated if all other- cine maker Moderna, and thorities must put more ef- outcomes, especially after a
wise healthy 5- to 11-year- “This always perhaps should is awaiting final data on the fort into getting youngsters third dose.
olds need an extra dose, es- have been a three-dose vac- littlest kids from rival Pfizer. their initial shots. Some especially high-risk
pecially since so many chil- cine,” said Dr. Grace Lee of The FDA’s own advisers are “That needs to be a priority,” people, including those 50
dren were infected during Stanford University, who expected to publicly debate she said. and older, have been of-
the huge winter surge of the chairs the CDC’s advisory data from one or both com- Thursday’s decision also fered the choice of a second
omicron variant. panel. panies next month. means that 5- to 11-year- booster, or fourth shot. And
But the U.S. now is averaging The booster question isn’t For the 5- to 11-year-olds, it’s olds with severely weakened still to be decided is whether
100,000 new cases a day for the hottest vaccine topic: Par- not clear how much booster immune systems, who are everyone will need addition-
the first time since February. ents still are anxiously await- demand there will be. Only supposed to get three initial al shots in the fall, possibly
And ultimately, the CDC’s ing a chance to vaccinate kids about 30% of that age group shots, would be eligible for a reformulated to offer bet-
advisers pointed to growing under 5 — the only group have had the initial two Pfiz- fourth dose. ter protection against newer
evidence from older kids and not yet eligible in the U.S. er doses since vaccinations Pfizer and its partner BioN- coronavirus variants.

Senate OKs overhaul of baby formula rules in aid program

By KEVIN FREKING culture to waive certain re- they need,” Senate Majority partment is working to book the equivalent of up to 1.5
Associated Press quirements so that WIC par- Leader Chuck Schumer, D- commercial aircraft to fly million 8-ounce bottles of
WASHINGTON (AP) — ticipants can purchase what- N.Y., said after the bill was about 246 pallets of Nestlé three formulas — Alfamino
The Senate approved a ever brand is available. passed. formula from Zurich, Swit- Infant, Alfamino Junio, and
bill Thursday aimed at “Now, millions of parents zerland, to Plainfield, Indi- Gerber Good Start Exten-
easing the baby formula will have an easier time find- Also Thursday, the adminis- ana. sive HA, all hypoallergenic
shortage for families par- ing the baby formula that tration said the Defense De- The shipments will include formulas for children with
ticipating in a government cow’s milk protein allergy.
assistance program that The White House said these
accounts for about half of are a priority because they
all formula purchased in serve a critical medical pur-
the United States. pose and are in short supply.
Lawmakers are also consid-
The House passed the bill ering boosting staffing at the
the day before, so it now goes Food and Drug Administra-
to President Joe Biden to be tion with a $28 emergency
signed into law. spending bill. That legisla-
Participants in a program tion also passed the House
known as WIC get vouchers this week, but faces uncertain
that are redeemed for specific prospects in the Senate.
foods to supplement their
diets. The vouchers usually The baby formula shortage
can only be used to purchase was caused by the safety-re-
one brand of infant formula, lated closure of the country’s
which encourages the manu- largest formula manufactur-
facturer to offer big discounts ing plant. The head of the
to secure a state’s business. FDA told lawmakers Thurs-
The bill makes it possible in day that the factory could be
extenuating circumstances up and running as soon as
for the Department of Agri- next week.