FDA clears updated COVID vaccine for kids under 5

U.S. regulators on Thursday cleared doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccines for children younger than age 5.

The Food and Drug Administration's decision aims to better protect the littlest kids amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases around the country. Dr. Peter Marks, FDA Vaccine Chief said "Vaccination is the best way we know to help prevent the serious outcomes of COVID 19, such as hospitalization and death."

Omicron-targeted booster shots made by Moderna and rival Pfizer already were open to everyone 5 and older.

The FDA now has authorized use of the tweaked shots starting at age 6 months -- but just who is eligible depends on how many vaccinations they've already had, and which kind. The updated vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are combination shots, containing half the original vaccine and half tweaked to match the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron strains that until recently were dominant. Now BA.5 descendants are responsible for most COVID-19 cases.