Pfizer asked for emergency use authorization for its updated COVID-19 booster shot targeting the Omicron variant in kids ages 5 to 11 on Monday.
The latest booster shot, which contains half the original formula and half targeting omicron, was released earlier this month for everyone ages 12 and older.
The children younger than 12 years old receive just 10 micrograms per dose, which is about a third of the shot that teenagers and adults get.
Since it was approved on Sept. 1, only 4.4 million Americans have received the omicron booster, according to the data released by the CDC.
Families have not been rushing out to get their youngest children primary doses of the vaccine. Only 38.4% of children between the ages of 5 and 11 have received at least one vaccine, while only 31.4% are fully vaccinated.
The omicron vaccine rollout for elementary school-aged children came as President Joe Biden declared the epidemic over.
We still have a problem with COVID. We are still doing a lot of work on it. Biden said in an interview that aired about a week ago that the pandemic is over.
If you notice, no one is wearing masks. Everyone seems to be in good shape. I think it is changing.