The US is urging everyone from the age of twelve to get a COVID-19 booster shot as soon as they are eligible. It is believed that it will play a key role in helping fight the highly contagious Omicron variant that’s rippling through our country.
Change by CDC
Though boosters were already being encouraged for all Americans over the age of sixteen, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently started endorsing an extra Pfizer shot for younger teens between 12 to 15. It also strengthened its recommendation that 16- and 17-year-olds must get it, too.
In an official statement, the CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said, “It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease. This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. I encourage all parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”
Why Should We Vaccinate Every Teen?
Vaccinating or giving a booster shot to teenagers is necessary as it helps them stay protected against serious illness from any variant of COVID-19, even the Omicron variant. Though Omicron can slip past a layer of protection offered by vaccines and cause mild infections, studies have proven that a booster shot will rev up the virus-fighting antibodies to a level that offers the best shot at avoiding symptomatic infection even from Omicron variant.
Another good reason for vaccinating teenagers is that it helps avoid spreading the virus to the vulnerable people in the family. If teenagers live with their elder parents or people with a weak immune system or multiple co-morbidities and the teens are not vaccinated, they can pass on the infection to the vulnerable, leading to the vulnerable patient’s death or serious illness. In such a scenario, the teen will feel immensely guilty or regretful.
Which Vaccine Protects Teenagers from Omicron?
Right now, the vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech is the only available option for American children, no matter what their age. According to CDC, around 13.5 million children between the ages of 12 to 17 have received Pfizer shots. The boosters for 16 and 17-year-olds were started last month only.
How to Protect Your Teen from the Omicron Variant of COVID-19?
- Provide the right information to your kids and talk about COVID-19 according to your teen’s age.
- Tell them that the variant may act unexpectedly, and you don’t know it all
- Talk about safety measures like washing their hands, practicing social distancing, etc.
- Connect to them about their feelings and make sure they tell you if they feel anxious or stressed.
- Let them know that they can have fun at home too.
Need Expert Advice?
If you or your teen are anxious or stressed about the Omicron variant and want to discuss the life changes in detail, talking to an expert might help. You can trust me, Michelle Mehta, a certified professional co-active coach, an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation, and a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner.
I am enthusiastic about helping teenagers feel authentic, empowered, worthy, loved and helping them create a sense of belonging and believe that the world needs their talents. So, if you feel you’re called to have your teenager work with me, let’s set up a time to talk and connect. I look forward to Empowering Your Teenager to Shine with Confidence. To know more, click here
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