The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, setting up shots for many before the beginning of next school year.
The announces comes a month after the company found that its shot provided protection for those 12 to 15.
The FDA action will be followed by a meeting of a federal vaccine advisory committee to discuss whether to recommend the shot for 12- to 15-year-olds. Shots could begin after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adopts the committee’s recommendation. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.
The U.S. has ordered at least 300 million doses of the Pfizer shot by the end of July, enough to protect 150 million people.
Pfizer isn’t the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine. Results also are expected by the middle of this year from a U.S. study of Moderna’s vaccine in 12- to 17-year-olds.
The FDA has already allowed both companies to begin U.S. studies in children 11 and younger, working their way to as young as 6 months old.
Washoe County Health District Division Director of Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness Dr. Nancy Diao discussed the approval in a meeting earlier Monday, encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated.
"I strongly recommend parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as it becomes available. For kids, we're seeing it's a very safe vaccine. The Pfizer clinical trial for the 12-15 age group showed that the vaccine is 100% effective. It has a really good antibody response in its age group, more than for adults," Diao said.
The Washoe County School District says it will follow guidance from health officials.
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