Taiwan reviews myocarditis data, approves second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for older children

Concerns over the risk of myocarditis led Taiwan to suspend second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 17. Now, however, the country has announced that those second doses are scheduled to continue by the middle of December.

Chen Shih-chung, the head of Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center, announced the news on Nov. 28.

According to a new report from Taiwan’s Central News Agency, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) reviewed all available data and concluded that cases of myocarditis and pericarditis are rare enough that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks.

The ACIP also emphasized that the first and second dose should be spaced at least 12 weeks apart.

The ACIP also recommended that all high-risk adults seek out COVID-19 booster shots once they have already received two vaccine doses. At least six months should pass after an adult receives their second dose before they receive a booster shot, the committee said.  

Click the link below for the full update:

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."

Philips introduced a new CT system at ECR aimed at the rapidly growing cardiac CT market, incorporating numerous AI features to optimize workflow and image quality.

Trimed Popup
Trimed Popup