ABC 7 Pediatric Cases Rise as Biden Administration Prepares for Rollout of New COVID Vaccine Boosters Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 21 September 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 Pediatric Cases Rise as Biden Administration Prepares for Rollout of New COVID Vaccine Boosters The Omicron-specific booster will fill in some of the gaps of the previous vaccine, say Cedars-Sinai experts. Photo by Getty Images. ABC 7 recently interviewed Michael A. Ben-Aderet, MD, associate director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai, about the new COVID-19 boosters targeting the Omicron variant and their potential impact on another surge this fall and winter. Federal public health authorities recently approved the new booster shots from Pfizer and Moderna as fears mount that another COVID-19 outbreak could occur during the colder months when people gather indoors. "This Omicron-specific booster will actually fill in some of the gaps of the previous vaccine, so it really will protect us going forward from other Omicron strains potentially," Ben-Aderet told ABC 7. Both updated boosters target the original Wuhan strain of the virus that causes COVID-19 and the now dominant Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Experts hope the new boosters also will be effective at fighting future versions of the virus that could emerge in coming months. Ben-Aderet told ABC 7 that the new shots were tested in animals in clinical trials but not in humans. It's part of a strategy to keep the well-studied vaccines current as variants evolve. "The technology is well established, and this has probably been the largest rollout in human history," Ben-Aderet told ABC 7. The new boosters are now available for people ages 12 and older and recommended for students as school resumes. Nearly 87,000 new cases of COVID-19 had been reported earlier this month among kids in the U.S. If individuals are unsure whether the new booster is right for them, they should consult their doctor, Ben-Aderet said. In addition to getting vaccinated, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and testing all remain essential for preventing the spread of COVID-19. "I think the most important thing to remember is that there is still a huge amount of COVID circulating in the community," Ben-Aderet told ABC 7. Click here to read the complete article from ABC 7. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release ABC 7 Pediatric Cases Rise as Biden Administration Prepares for Rollout of New COVID Vaccine Boosters Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home