The United States can start administering COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 as soon as Wednesday, with roughly 28 million school-age kids now eligible for the shots that provide protection against the illness.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the Pfizer Inc (PFE.N)/BioNTech SE shot for broad use in that age group after a panel of outside advisers voted in favor of it.
While about 58% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, children under 12 have not yet been eligible for shots. The Delta variant of the virus has led to thousands of children being hospitalized and they make up 25% of U.S. cases.
The vaccine, shown to be more than 90% effective at preventing symptomatic infection in children, offers an avenue for fewer quarantines or school closures and more freedoms. [snip]
The U.S. government is sending 15 million COVID-19 vaccines for children to distribution centers around the country, and while some vaccinations will be given as soon as Wednesday, shots will be more widely available starting the week of Nov. 8.
The shots will be available at pediatrician's offices, children's hospitals and pharmacies. The big national pharmacy chains, Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O) and CVS Health (CVS.N), will have them starting this weekend.
The federal government has purchased 50 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine to be deployed, U.S. officials said this week.
Pfizer's shot for younger children contains a lower 10-microgram dose of vaccine than the 30 micrograms given to those aged 12 and older. (our emphasis)
Moderna's vaccine for children 12-17 is awaiting FDA review of safety data, and the company is delaying its request for emergency use authorization for its vaccine for 6-11 year- old children until that review is complete.
President Biden said the U.S. "reached a turning point in our battle against Covid-19," with the authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds. Let's hope parents trust the science and get their children vaccinated as soon as possible so everyone's lives can get back to normal.
