Policy Updates:
The CDC recommends that children and adolescents age 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children and adolescents age 5 and up, as a 2-dose series taken 3 weeks apart. The dose for children age 5-11 is one-third of the dosage of the vaccine for older adolescents and adults.
Vaccination is the best way to protect children age 5 and older from COVID-19. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible.
The vaccine is safe and effective. Before being authorized for children, scientists and medical experts completed their review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials of thousands of children. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was rigorously tested and reviewed, and over 11 million adolescents ages 12-17 have already safely received the COVID-19 vaccine
Booster shots for all three Covid-19 vaccines are now being offered to everyone who has been vaccinated.
Who is eligible for Booster Shots?
People 65 and older
Those who are 18 and older who live in long-term care;
Those who are 18 and older with underlying medical conditions or work or live in high-risk settings.
For those who previously received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine: anyone 18 and older who was vaccinated two or more months ago is eligible.
Can you mix and match COVID vaccines?
The C.D.C. is in the process of approving a mix-and-match strategy, meaning, if you received a specific brand of the vaccine for your original dose, you may be eligible for boosters of a different brand.
Can Children 5-11 get vaccinated?
The F.D.A. stated that vaccine regulations may be approved for emergency authorizations by beginning of November.
Events:
COVID-19 Response Update with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy Webinar The vaccines are safe and effective – at all stages of pregnancy and postpartum – and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible variants and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people. RSVP HERE
COVID-19 Vaccine Briefing and Training for Employers If you're interested as an employer, HR professional, or business leader, sign up to join this briefing TOMORROW Thursday, October 28 at 2PM ET, featuring Ben Wakana from the White House COVID-19 Response Team to learn more about implementing vaccine policies.
RSVP HERE
Muslim Americans During COVID-19
The ISPU's Survey on Muslim American Attitudes on COVID-19 Protection
Resources:
C.D.C.’s full guidelines on Booster Shots
Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant?
What are the types of vaccines?
Myths vs Facts on COVID-19
Learn more about booster shots.
Topline Updates from Public Health Communications Collaborative:
The vaccines work. The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. CDC data show that in August 2021, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. was more than 11 times greater for unvaccinated people than for fully vaccinated people.
Booster doses are recommended for some groups of people.
The CDC’s clinical guidance advises people to get the same booster as their initial vaccine, but allows people to mix and match (i.e. get a different COVID-19 booster than their initial vaccine) if they have a different preference.
As the science and the virus evolve, so do public health recommendations. Booster doses are common for many vaccines. The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines continue to closely watch for signs of waning immunity, how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differ across age groups and risk factors.
Visit our Answers to Tough Questions on COVID-19 boosters for messaging guidance that helps answer questions such as: “Can I mix-and-match my COVID-19 vaccine and booster?” and “I want to get a booster dose, but I’m not eligible yet. Why not? Can I get one anyway?”
The CDC recommends that children and adolescents age 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children and adolescents age 5 and up, as a 2-dose series taken 3 weeks apart. The dose for children age 5-11 is one-third of the dosage of the vaccine for older adolescents and adults.
Vaccination is the best way to protect children age 5 and older from COVID-19. COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized with COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible.
The vaccine is safe and effective. Before being authorized for children, scientists and medical experts completed their review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials of thousands of children. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was rigorously tested and reviewed, and over 11 million adolescents ages 12-17 have already safely received the COVID-19 vaccine
Booster shots for all three Covid-19 vaccines are now being offered to everyone who has been vaccinated.
Who is eligible for Booster Shots?
People 65 and older
Those who are 18 and older who live in long-term care;
Those who are 18 and older with underlying medical conditions or work or live in high-risk settings.
For those who previously received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine: anyone 18 and older who was vaccinated two or more months ago is eligible.
Can you mix and match COVID vaccines?
The C.D.C. is in the process of approving a mix-and-match strategy, meaning, if you received a specific brand of the vaccine for your original dose, you may be eligible for boosters of a different brand.
Can Children 5-11 get vaccinated?
The F.D.A. stated that vaccine regulations may be approved for emergency authorizations by beginning of November.
Events:
COVID-19 Response Update with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy Webinar The vaccines are safe and effective – at all stages of pregnancy and postpartum – and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible variants and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people. RSVP HERE
COVID-19 Vaccine Briefing and Training for Employers If you're interested as an employer, HR professional, or business leader, sign up to join this briefing TOMORROW Thursday, October 28 at 2PM ET, featuring Ben Wakana from the White House COVID-19 Response Team to learn more about implementing vaccine policies.
RSVP HERE
Muslim Americans During COVID-19
- As of spring 2021, a majority of Muslims always wore a mask in public places to protect against COVID-19.
- Self-identified liberal Muslims more likely to have always worn a mask in public places than those who identify as conservative.
- Younger Muslims (18-29) were less likely than older Muslims (30-49 and 50+) to always wear a mask in public places.
- Muslims more likely than the general public to support mask mandates as reasonable
- Find full results and graphs here
The ISPU's Survey on Muslim American Attitudes on COVID-19 Protection
Resources:
C.D.C.’s full guidelines on Booster Shots
Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant?
What are the types of vaccines?
Myths vs Facts on COVID-19
Learn more about booster shots.
Topline Updates from Public Health Communications Collaborative:
The vaccines work. The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be remarkably effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, including against the delta variant. CDC data show that in August 2021, the risk of dying from COVID-19 in the U.S. was more than 11 times greater for unvaccinated people than for fully vaccinated people.
Booster doses are recommended for some groups of people.
- Some Pfizer and Moderna recipients should get a booster at least six months after their second shot – people age 65 and older, and adults at high risk due to medical conditions or exposure at their jobs.
- All Johnson & Johnson recipients age 18 and older should get a booster at least two months after their initial shot.
- Immunocompromised people who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get an additional dose at least 28 days after their second dose.
The CDC’s clinical guidance advises people to get the same booster as their initial vaccine, but allows people to mix and match (i.e. get a different COVID-19 booster than their initial vaccine) if they have a different preference.
As the science and the virus evolve, so do public health recommendations. Booster doses are common for many vaccines. The scientists and medical experts who developed the COVID-19 vaccines continue to closely watch for signs of waning immunity, how well the vaccines protect against new mutations of the virus, and how that data differ across age groups and risk factors.
Visit our Answers to Tough Questions on COVID-19 boosters for messaging guidance that helps answer questions such as: “Can I mix-and-match my COVID-19 vaccine and booster?” and “I want to get a booster dose, but I’m not eligible yet. Why not? Can I get one anyway?”
