FDA authorizes a booster dose of BioNTech/Pfizer’s vaccine for 5 to 11 year olds

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old can get a booster dose of BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc.’s PFE, +1.32% COVID-19 vaccine. Children in this age group should wait at least five months after getting the primary series of shots. The regulator authorized a booster of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine for teens back in January. The FDA’s advisory committee did not meet to discuss whether the benefits of a third dose of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine outweigh the risks for this age group because the companies’ request for authorization in 5 to 11 year olds “did not raise questions that would benefit from additional discussion by committee members,” according to the regulator.