| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently authorized and endorsed a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11 years at least five months after completion of a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine primary series. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will continue to ensure that coverage is available for this critical protection from the virus that causes COVID-19, including this new booster dose, without cost sharing. The best way to protect yourself and your children from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Parents, if you have not gotten vaccinated, or have not taken your children to get vaccinated, now is the time. Continued safety monitoring shows that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children and teens. In addition, they are effective at preventing severe illness from infection with the virus. CMS is helping to ensure that cost is not a barrier to access, including for boosters. The federal government is providing vaccines free of charge to everyone 5 years and older living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status. People can visit vaccines.gov (English) or vacunas.gov (Spanish) to search for vaccines nearby. CMS continues to explore ways to ensure maximum access to COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. There are numerous resources available. Organizations can use the free, customizable materials from the web available through this web page CMS COVID-19 web page. This important information can be utilized in their outreach efforts year-round, including digital videos, palm cards, posters, infographics, social media messages, graphics, and more. Please share these materials, bookmark these pages, and check back often for the most up-to-date information. It is important to us that we help encourage our beneficiaries and consumers especially those with chronic conditions to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. | 