That advice runs counter to new federal guidance under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which no longer recommends COVID vaccines for healthy children of any age. Instead, the federal stance is that families may consider the shots after a conversation with their physician.

COVID-19 vaccine proves cost-effective, especially for older adults, significantly reducing illness and hospitalizations across all age groups.

The Food and Drug Administration could pull Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine emergency authorization for children under age 5.

The uncertainty surrounds who will be able to get updated vaccines in coming months – shots created to protect against more recent strains of COVID-19.

XFG causes a severe sore throat and hoarseness, hence the “razor blade COVID” nickname. Symptoms common to other variants include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion and runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle and body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.