A medical staff conducts a COVID-19 rapid test on a man in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Michael Varaklas/AP)

       NEW YORK — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on two measures to increase access to additional doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

       The CDC on Tuesday recommended shortening the recommended interval of time between when people who had an initial series of Pfizer vaccinations and when they receive a Pfizer booster shot, from six months to five months.

       The agency has not changed the recommended booster interval for people who got other vaccines. The Johnson & Johnson booster interval is two months and the Moderna vaccine can be given six months after initial doses.

       The CDC also recommended that kids ages 5 to 11 with moderately or severely weakened immune systems receive an additional dose 28 days after their second Pfizer shot. Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine is recommended for that age group.

       The CDC’s decisions followed moves by the Food and Drug Administration on Monday. The FDA also approved Pfizer booster shots for kids ages 12 to 15. The CDC has not announced a recommendation about that, but a CDC expert advisory committee is expected to take up the matter during a meeting Wednesday.

       CDC shortens Pfizer booster recommendation to 5 months

       50m

       Five things to do in Chicago suburbs and northwest Indiana Jan. 7-13

       2h

       Business Your biological age may be different from your real age. A new institute at Northwestern plans to explore the issue.

       4h

       Chicago Bears 4 moments from the Chicago Bears’ blowout of the New York Giants that could be significant to the future, from Trevis Gipson’s 1st sack to Darnell Mooney’s TD

       4h

       Coronavirus Chicago-area hospitals delaying elective surgeries, as Illinois sees record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations

       Jan 3, 2022