Pfizer

A third shot of the vaccine can be given at least six months after the two-dose regimen, according to the authorization. A booster rollout could begin this week.

Dr. Juan Dumois, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, estimates the Pfizer vaccine may be available for children before the end of year.

Pfizer studied a lower dose of its vaccine in more than 2,200 kindergartners and elementary school-aged kids. They developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels as strong as teens and young adults.

But the researchers stressed that all three vaccines, including the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson shots, provide strong protection against people getting so sick that they end up in the hospital.

Pfizer says data supports its request for Food and Drug Administration approval of a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine about six months after the second dose in people 16 years and older.

Now that the FDA has fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, some health care experts hope to see more vaccine mandates and more people getting their shots.

The FDA announced the Pfizer vaccine is the first in the U.S. that is now fully approved. Here's what that means for vaccine mandates and convincing vaccine-hesitant people to get vaccinated.

The approval replaces the emergency use authorizations granted last December and could make it easier for employers, the military and universities to mandate vaccination.

Vivek Murthy says no decision had been made after a meeting Monday with Pfizer to discuss its request for approval of a third shot of its coronavirus vaccine.

Pfizer's plan to seek booster authorization drew a rebuttal last week from the CDC, which said booster shots were not needed “at this time.” However, Dr. Anthony Fauci didn’t rule out the possibility.