Older Teens In Wisconsin Are Now Eligible For The Pfizer Booster Shot

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Friday approved the Pfizer booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Teens 16 and older are recommended to get a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months after their second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, state health services said in a statement.

The Pfizer vaccine booster dose is the only booster recommended for 16- and 17-year-olds in Wisconsin as of Friday, and state health services said those who are 18 and older are allowed to mix and match for booster doses.

"The approval of the Pfizer vaccine booster dose for 16- and 17-year-olds provides another opportunity for more Wisconsinites to get additional protection from COVID-19," Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said. "The COVID-19 booster doses are important tools as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 and its variants."

Being fully vaccinated and getting a booster dose is the best protection for preventing the worst outcomes from COVID-19, Timberlake added.

The arrival of the omicron variant in Wisconsin and growing hospitalizations among those who aren't fully vaccinated are reminders of how important it is to get vaccinated and a booster shot for added protection, state health services epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard said in a statement.

"We must prevent further strain on Wisconsin’s health care system and long-term care providers," Westergaard added. "The longer there are large populations of people who are unvaccinated, the greater the risk that people who need care will not be able to get it."