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CDC recommends COVID-19 booster for kids 5-11

This week, the CDC recommended a COVID-19 booster shot for children 5 to 11 years old.

Following the  FDA’s approval of a booster on Tuesday, the CDC made its recommendation on Thursday. The recommendation is for kids to receive the booster five months after their previous dose.

Carla Berg is with the Arizona Department of Health Services.        

“We know the effectiveness of that COVID-19 vaccine can wane over time," Berg said. "So it’s great to have this opportunity to bump up that immunity and increase that protection for these kids ages 5-11 as well as for those individuals around them.”

According to the state health department, about 31% of Arizona children have received at least one dose. Berg wants to see those numbers grow.

“As a whole, we know that we can do better for our COVID-19 vaccination coverage," Berg said. "We have had so many great efforts to help promote this. And within certain age groups, including our older demographic, we have seen better uptick, but this can continue to be strengthened.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine approved for this age group.

Nick Sanchez is a senior producer for KJZZ's The Show. He joined the station as an intern during the spring of 2022, where he developed a passion for audio storytelling in the Valley.