Vaccination and Boosters: Only Way to Fight Variants, Pfizer to Seek Approval for Boosters for 16- and 17-Year-Olds

By Yehudit Garmaise

Travel bans can slow, but they cannot stop the spread of new COVID variants, which, only vaccines can do, President Joe Biden said yesterday, after restricting travel from eight African countries and further encouraging that all Americans get their shots and their boosters six months after their last doses.

The travel bans, President Biden said, “give us time to take more actions, to move more quickly, to make sure people understand that you have to get your vaccine. 

“You have to get the shot.  You have to get the booster.”

While President Joe Biden said that Omicron, the new COVID variant is “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic,” at the same time, he said, “The best protection against this new variant or any of the variants out there: is getting fully vaccinated and getting booster shots.”   

In addition to the president, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi, MD, who, yesterday, all urged those who are not vaccinated to get their shots to fend off yet another COVID surge of infections, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened its booster recommendations.

Not much is yet known about the Omicron variant, however, scientists see that it is highly mutated and thought to be more contagious among younger people and people who have already had previous strains of COVID.

As part of their considerable efforts to bolster the immunity of more people, Pfizer and BioNTech are expected this week to apply for approval for booster shots of their vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds.

If approved, Pfizer’s new booster would be the first one available to people under 18.

Ten days ago, federal health agencies authorized booster shots of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for all Americans 18 and older.

Because Omicron has mutated as many as 30 times, scientists are not sure how well the current vaccines will prevent the spread of its infection.

While vaccine manufacturers are trying to figure out whether modified vaccines will be required to fight off the newest COVID strain, both Pfizer and Moderna are already working to create new vaccines that can better fight off Omicron.

“We have the best vaccine in the world, the best medicines, and the best scientists,” President Biden said yesterday. “Sooner or later, we’re going to see cases of this new variant here in the United States.  

Most Americans are fully vaccinated, but not yet boosted.

“If you’re 18 years or over and got fully vaccinated before June the 1st, go get the booster shot today.  They’re free, and they’re available at 80,000 locations coast to coast.  A fully vaccinated and boosted person is the most protected against COVID.”

Photo: Flickr