The US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is assembly now to debate the US Meals and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for kids ages 5-11.
A vote is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. ET.
If ACIP recommends the vaccines and the CDC director indicators off, vaccination might start instantly for that age group.
The place can youngsters get vaccines?
The identical locations they get flu vaccines – their pediatricians’ workplaces, at native pharmacies and maybe at some faculties.
“That is the pediatrician’s wheelhouse,” Dr. David Kimberlin, who helps lead the pediatric infectious ailments division on the College of Alabama at Birmingham, advised CNN.
“We’re attempting to get pediatricians enrolled and that is a serious technique,” Claire Hannan, government director of the Affiliation of Immunization Managers, advised CNN’s Jacqueline Howard.
One potential pinch level is the smaller dose of vaccine, which suggests the youthful youngsters can’t be given doses in inventory for adults and teenagers.
The youngsters’ vaccine is anticipated to be shipped in packages of 100 doses, which is way smaller than the packages of 1,170 doses used for the grownup vaccines.
“The truth that they’re transferring to smaller packaging and smaller transport quantities is actually nice information,” Hannan stated. That might be simpler for docs’ workplaces to handle.
The CDC notes that authorities web sites assist folks discover locations to get vaccinated.
“Search vaccines.gov, textual content your ZIP code to 438829, or name 1-800-232-0233 to search out areas close to you,” the CDC advises.
“I believe the actual secret is to get sufficient dad and mom excited by having their youngsters vaccinated,” Kimberlin stated.
As well as, White Home Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients stated the nation’s Covid-19 vaccination program for kids ages 5 to 11 might be absolutely up and operating subsequent week.
“Whereas vaccinations could begin later this week, this system will nonetheless be ramping as much as its full energy, with thousands and thousands extra doses packed, shipped and delivered and hundreds of further websites coming on-line every day,” Zients stated at a briefing Monday, noting that 15 million doses are being shipped.
