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The move, which had been expected this week, is one of the final regulatory steps needed before extra doses can be administered to teenagers in
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Monday's guidance also shortens the time period between the second dose and the booster shot, from six to five months.
A health worker administers a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to a teenager in
"The need for the FDA to quickly adapt has meant using the best available science to make informed decisions with the health and safety of the American public in mind," Acting FDA Commissioner Dr.
"With the current wave of the omicron variant, it's critical that we continue to take effective, life-saving preventative measures such as primary vaccination and boosters, mask wearing and social distancing to in order to effectively fight COVID-19."
The FDA said its decision is based partly on real-world data from
"The data shows there are no new safety concerns following a booster in this population," the agency said in a statement.
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