Parents of young children across the United States have been reporting that it is difficult to find enough Covid-19 booster shots for their children. Many vaccine providers are reporting that the available slots are quickly filling up with demand high and supply low. The CDC recommends that children ages 12-15 receive the Pfizer vaccine, however at the moment the only Covid-19 booster shots available for this age group are the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccines. However, the Moderna vaccine has yet to be approved for this age group and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is not widely available yet.
Health experts say that the lack of booster shots for 12 to 15-year-olds is caused partially by the fact that this particular age group didn’t have as many vaccines ready to start with, which has created an overall imbalance in the supply of vaccines. Vaccine protocols vary state by state, and while in some states there is a surplus of booster shots, others are still struggling to get them out.
Some states and health systems are taking steps to make it easier for parents of young children to get booster shots, such as rolling out mobile vaccine clinics and setting up special appointment days for younger teens to receive their booster shots. The Biden administration is also working to address the supply shortages, with recently announced efforts to increase the availability of Pfizer vaccines and purchase additional doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
