WISCONSIN — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced Monday they support the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s decision to recommend booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

DHS said kids in that age range should receive a booster dose five months after their Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine series.

“Clinical research demonstrated that a third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine given after the second dose to children ages 5-11 helps give added protection against COVID-19, including infections from Omicron,” said Stephanie Schauer, Division of Public Health Immunization program manager. 

This means that everyone 5-years-old and older is eligible to get boosted.

“The recommendation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for 5-11-year-olds provides parents with an excellent opportunity to ensure their children receive additional protection from COVID-19 prior to summer activities,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “We encourage everyone five and older to join the more than two million Wisconsinites who have already gotten their boosters or additional COVID-19 vaccine doses. Staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines is the best protection for preventing the worst outcomes from this virus.”

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized and recommended for children for both the primary vaccine series and booster doses.

DHS said it encourages everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible, noting booster doses “can strengthen and extend protection against infection, serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.”

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