WASHINGTON (AP) — Anticipating a green light from vaccine advisers, the Biden administration is assembling and shipping millions of COVID-19 shots for children ages 5-11, the White House said Monday. The first could go into kids’ arms by midweek.
“We are not waiting on the operations and logistics,” said coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients.
By vaccinating children, the U.S. hopes to head off another coronavirus wave during the cold-weather months when people spend more time indoors and respiratory illnesses can spread more easily. Cases have been declining for weeks, but the virus has repeatedly shown its ability to stage a comeback and more easily transmissible mutations are a persistent threat.
On Tuesday, a special advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet to consider detailed recommendations for administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to younger children. The Food and Drug Administration already cleared the shots, which deliver about one-third of the vaccine given to adults. After CDC advisers make their recommendations, agency director Dr. Rochelle Walensky will give the final order.
Zients said the government has enough of the Pfizer vaccine for all 28 million children in the 5-11 age group. “We’re in great shape on supply,” Zients said during the White House coronavirus briefing.
The children’s vaccination drive is expected to start later this week and go into full swing by next week. Parents will be able to go to vaccines.gov and filter on vaccines for children 5-11 to find a location near them that is offering the shot.
Pfizer’s vaccine already has been authorized for use in older children.
After the FDA gave its authorization for younger children, the Biden administration asked states, territories and other jurisdictions to place their initial orders. Workers at the drug company and at distribution centers began the process of preparing and packing 15 million doses, said Zients.
“More doses will be packed and shipped and delivered,” he added. “More and more vaccine will come on line as we ramp up.”
The goal is for parents to have a range of options for getting children vaccinated, from pediatricians’ offices to clinics and pharmacies.
Walensky acknowledged both a sense of urgency and concern about getting children vaccinated. She stressed that clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine for children have found it highly effective in preventing serious disease, with no severe adverse reactions in safety and efficacy trials.
“There has been a great deal of anticipation from parents,” Walensky said. “I encourage parents to ask questions.”
Separately, Zients announced that about 70% of U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated, while 80% have received at least one vaccine dose.
© 2021 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Any parent that would turn their child over to this government for experimental purposes is not a parent but a predator. God please save the children from this horrible experiment.
ANY parent forcing this shot on their kids, DOESN’T DESERVE TO EVER have kids.. PERIOD.
Children from 5 to 21 do not need the vaccine, follow the TRUE science . And they do not need to be masked in school !
What science.. The govt is telling you what the science is. ALL HAIL FAUCI.. Now shut up and put your mask back on, lemming… MUAHAHHHHAHAAHAHA
The insanity of this COVID drama is like a boa constrictor wrapping itself around our lives—squeezing our Constitutional rights and freedom of choice—hoping to choke the resistance out of its prey.
Its a money and power game being played by the elites and they can only win through control.
Read about how the mRNA works. This is the first vaccine that actually went into production with this science and it will require boosters because it takes over your immune system and stops your natural immune system from fighting on its own. Bad stuff.
It’s interesting to follow local discussions on the vaccine. There are lots and lots of Karens out there that just can’t wait to inject their kids. There are parents who are agonizing over the decision and parents who are dead set against ever injecting their kids. Some are a lot more determined not to inject their kids than they ever have been themselves.
If Biden dares to mandate children getting vaccinated I think that’s when we will see some real trouble. I hope some of his handlers have better sense than he does.
I wonder, if this is being done, as a means to try and INFLUENCE THE board to “VOTE THE RIGHT WAY” (Meaning to mandate vaccines for all)”..