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The U.S. is urging that everyone 12 and older get a COVID-19 booster as soon as they’re eligible, to help fight back the hugely contagious omicron mutant that’s ripping through the country. Boosters already were encouraged for all Americans 16 and older, but Wednesday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed an extra Pfizer shot for younger teens — those 12 to 15 — and strengthened its recommendation that 16- and 17-year-olds get it, too. (Neergaard and Stobbe, 1/6)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Covid-19 boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds, making the doses available to the adolescents for the first time. With the move Wednesday, many doctor’s offices, schools and other vaccination sites will make booster shots from Pfizer Inc. and partner BioNTech SE available to 12- to 15-year-olds. (Schwartz, 1/5)

The 13-to-1 vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also changed the recommendation for 16- and 17-year olds, suggesting that they should get a booster as well. ... The sole member to vote against the recommendation, Helen “Keipp” Talbot, said after the vote that she supports making booster shots available to youths 12 to 15. But Talbot, a vaccine researcher and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University, said she felt the country would gain more by focusing limited public health resources on trying to get more children in this age group vaccinated than by boosting the children who have already had two doses. “I am just fine with kids getting boosters,” she said. “I just really want the U.S. to move forward with vaccinating all kids so that all kids can get back to a normal life. And I don’t think it’s fair for 12- to 17-year-olds who have been vaccinated to risk myocarditis again for an unknown benefit because their colleagues won’t get vaccinated.”(Branswell, 1/5)

Dr. Harish Chafle, a senior consultant of pulmonology and critical care at Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, told The Hindustan Times that children are at risk for developing infection — especially when they’re unvaccinated. He listed five symptoms to keep an eye out for when it comes to the omicron variant: Fever, runny nose, throat pain, body ache and dry cough.

More than 4,000 children were hospitalized with covid-19 across the nation Wednesday, Washington Post figures show, marking a new high that towers above previous peaks set during the summer when the delta variant was driving up infections. The tally, which includes confirmed as well as suspected pediatric covid-19 patients, reflects a steep rise in infections in that group. Less than two weeks ago, on Christmas Day, fewer than 2,000 children were in hospitals with covid. (Jeong and Hassan, 1/6)

Pediatric coronavirus hospitalizations in Connecticut have risen dramatically in recent weeks, and health officials are reporting crowded emergency rooms in children’s hospitals. An average of 21 children per day were hospitalized across the state last week, doubling the average number of pediatric coronavirus patients over the course of a single week, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As of Jan. 3, the state had 27 children with confirmed COVID-19 in the hospital and an additional six hospitalized who were suspected to have the virus. (Carlesso, Altimari and Golvala, 1/6)

Afternoons with Grammy. Birthday parties. Meeting other toddlers at the park. Parents of children too young to be vaccinated are facing difficult choices as an omicron variant-fueled surge in COVID-19 cases makes every encounter seem risky. ... Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease doctor, said surrounding children with vaccinated adults is one way to keep them from contracting the virus. Health officials also reiterate that face masks prevent transmissions, and putting them on children 2 and older in public and group settings can help keep them safe. (Tanner, 1/6)