November 4, 2021 (Washington, DC) -- As policies continue to shift and change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sikh Coalition has curated important information about booster vaccines, vaccines for children aged 5 to 11, and updated pandemic travel restrictions.
First, late last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published recommendations around ‘booster’ shots of the COVID-19 vaccine. Whether you received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, you may now be eligible for a booster dose based on your age, health conditions, or occupation.
Click here to read about booster shots in English, and
click here to review the same information in Punjabi.
Second, on October 29, the FDA
granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11; the CDC
endorsed the same on Tuesday. As is the case with all other COVID-19 vaccine EUAs, safety trials were conducted--and data about them is published--before these announcements. Vaccines for children will be available at local pharmacies and pediatricians' offices. If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and your children, consult your pediatrician.
Finally, effective this coming Monday, November 8, the Biden Administration will enact a series of changes,
originally announced in September, to policies affecting individuals travelling to the United States from abroad. A summary of these changes is below.
Beginning in November, all adult foreign nationals travelling to the United States will be required to 1) be fully vaccinated before boarding their flight and 2) show a negative COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before their flight. This new blanket policy will replace all country-specific restrictions, including those previously restricting travel from India, the 26 Schengen countries in Europe, and others. The U.S. will accept proof of vaccination for any vaccine approved by the World Health Organization, including the COVISHIELD and Covaxin vaccines available in India.
American citizens who are fully vaccinated and returning from overseas will simply have to meet the same negative COVID-19 testing requirement (less than 72 hours before their flight). American citizens who are not fully vaccinated and are returning from overseas will face a stricter requirement: They will need to show a negative COVID-19 test from less than 24 hours before their flight, as well as undergo testing upon return to the country.
The Sikh Coalition will continue to provide updates as further announcements are made. In the meantime, you can continue to visit our website at
thesikh.co/vaccine for the latest COVID-19 vaccine safety resources, developed in partnership with the North American Sikh Medical and Dental Association, the Sikh Family Center, and the Jakara Movement.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.
