Milwaukee Health Department begins offering booster doses to kids ages 12-15

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Health Department says they will expand the administration of the Pfizer and Moderna booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine immediately, following FDA and CDC approval.

The updated emergency use authorization:

• Expands the use of a booster dose to individuals ages 12-15
• Shortens the time between completion of primary vaccination of either mRNA series (Pfizer or Moderna) and a booster dose to at least five months
• Allows for a third primary series dose for certain immunocompromised children ages 5-11

Beginning Monday, Jan. 10, individuals 12 and older can visit the Northwest Health Center, Southside Health Center or Menomonee Valley site for their booster dose when eligible. You can find hours and locations available by clicking here. 

The health department says children ages 5-11 who have undergone solid organ transplantation or who have been diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise may not respond adequately to the two-dose primary vaccination series and are authorized a third dose.

At this time, children 5-11 who are not immunocompromised do not need a third dose. 

“With the dominant presence of the Omicron variant in our community, it’s more important than ever for individuals to get vaccinated and boostered as soon as they are eligible,” said Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson. “Vaccines are the best tool we have to keep our community healthy, and this approval by the FDA and CDC brings us one step closer to a fully-protected city.”

More details on these changes are outlined by the FDA on their website.