The Food and Drug Administration today announced that the Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine can be safely given to youth 12 to 15 years old.
Pfizer is also studying now whether the company’s vaccine can be safely given to children from 6 months to 11 years old, with a conclusion expected later this summer.
The news, which was leaked to the New York Times in advance, is the subject of an FDA press conference Monday on the topic of immunizing children against Covid-19 before the school year resumes in the fall.
Last week, the Anchorage School District superintendent announced that no parent who has not been immunized could take part in field trips or similar activities. The announcement about young children being put on the vaccination list is likely to drive a wedge between pro-vaccine Alaskans and those with hesitancy over the shot, which became available in December. The news of including young children in the vaccination program may alarm some parents.
According to the Times, approval is not yet certain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee on Covid-19 policy will meet shortly to make recommendations on whether 12-15-year-olds should get the shot.
