Coronavirus Watch: FDA reportedly close to authorizing third Pfizer shot for kids

The Food and Drug Administration is reportedly poised to authorize a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for kids ages 12-15.

Regulators also plan to allow adolescents and adults to get the third shots five months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer’s vaccine instead of the current six months, The New York Times reported, citing sources it described as familiar with the agency's deliberations.

A third shot, often referred to as a booster, is also expected to be authorized for children as young as 5 with immune deficiencies.

The third dose authorization is expected "in coming days," CNN reported, citing a source CNN said was familiar with the plan. The Times said the authorization is expected Monday.

It's Thursday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• The U.S. is averaging more than 300,000 new reported cases per day for the first time, although hospitalization numbers are somewhat less gloomy. Forty-seven states reported more cases this week than the week prior, and 15 states reported their highest-ever counts, a Paste BN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. The national pace of hospital admissions for likely COVID-19 patients was up 20.7% from a week earlier – alarming but far lower than the jump in infections.
• Michigan’s health department said it's not ready to join the CDC in reducing isolation restrictions for people from 10 days to five. Officials said they will first review supporting evidence for the CDC's guidance.
• Are flight cancellations and delays the new normal this winter? There have been more than 8,000 cancellations and more than 40,000 delays within, to or from the U.S. since Christmas Eve.
• The University of Miami will start the spring semester Jan. 18 with remote-only classes. School President Julio Frenk, president of the private university, said in-person classes are expected to resume on Jan. 31.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 53.8 million COVID-19 cases and 823,300 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Worldwide, there have been more than 285 million cases and more than 5.4 million deaths. About 73% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 62% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Among U.S. adults, 85% have received at least one shot, and about 73% are fully vaccinated.

Tracking the pandemic: See the numbers in your area here. See where cases are rising here. See vaccination rates here. And here, compare vaccinations rates worldwide and see which countries are using which vaccines.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck