WASHINGTON — Millions of children between the ages 12 to 15 are now eligible for Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid booster shots, giving them an extra dose of protection as they return to school amid an unprecedented surge of infections across the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on Wednesday the booster shot for younger adolescents at least five months after their second dose.

“It is critical that we protect our children and teens from COVID-19 infection and the complications of severe disease,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement Wednesday evening. “This booster dose will provide optimized protection against COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.”