Children and teens are less likely to need boosters

 

Now that the United States has rolled out Covid-19 booster shots for all fully vaccinated adults, some parents have been wondering if or when their vaccinated teenagers might need to get a booster dose of vaccine -- and researchers are working to have an answer soon.   Adolescents might need boosters at some point, but "it is less likely that they will, because your healthy, strapping teenagers have a much better and stronger immune response than I do as an elderly person. I gulp when I say elderly but that is the truth," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN last week.   When it comes to immunity in adolescents, "it may be that they will go a much longer period of time before they start to wane," Fauci said. "They have a very robust immune system. So I would not be surprised that they will have a protection that will go way out beyond that six months."   While there have been several recent studies documenting the waning immunity observed in fully vaccinated adults, there has not been much data on immunity in vaccinated adolescents over time. Having that data -- specifically weighing the safety and benefits of boosters for this age group -- can be helpful when considering if adolescents might need booster doses at all.   However, on Monday. a source familiar with the plan told CNN that Pfizer is expected to seek FDA authorization for its vaccine booster shot for people who 16 and 17 years old.