Should I take my child in for a COVID booster shot?

Does it seem like COVID fear is fading away to you, too? It might be less spoken about in the media these days, but boosters are still recommended. Here's why.

about the doc

Ayala Wegman is a clinical assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She has two young boys and deeply enjoys caring for her community at NYU-Langone Global Pediatrics on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where she resides. We are proud to introduce Ayala as our All About The Mom resident pediatrician. You will find her advice in our Ask a Doc section.

Should I get a COVID booster shot for my kids this fall? I feel like no one is getting seriously ill with COVID anymore. Is it worth it to make them get a booster?

The bivalent booster has been shown in studies to elicit a stronger immune response against the current circulating strains of omicron and provides improved protection. As of Sept 2022 this shot is currently available to kids 12 and older and is especially important for many people who are at risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. For those under 12 years old the CDC recommends the ancestral booster as the best way to protect against morbidity and mortality of COVID-19.