The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on children ages 5-11, marking a long-awaited milestone in the nearly two-year fight against the deadly virus that experts say has likely already infected nearly half the population in that age group.
In Texas, that makes up to 2.9 million children eligible for the vaccine.
The federal regulatory agency said the vaccine is safe and effective for children in that age group. The Pfizer test results shared with the FDA show that its vaccine prevents symptoms in most children and causes no side effects more serious than those already seen in older age groups. FDA panelists decided that the benefits of the vaccine for children ages 5-11 — many of whom have suffered isolation, depression and learning loss throughout the course of the pandemic — outweigh the risks associated with the Pfizer shot.
“As a mother and a physician, I know that parents, caregivers, school staff, and children have been waiting for today’s authorization. Vaccinating younger children against COVID-19 will bring us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner. “Our comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the data pertaining to the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness should help assure parents and guardians that this vaccine meets our high standards.”
Still uncertain, however, is whether the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will limit the shots to only children with preconditions that put them at high risk of serious disease from COVID-19 — a decision expected next week.
The FDA’s announcement, which follows a recommendation by its vaccine advisory panel earlier this week, triggers an initial federal allocation of more than a million doses destined for children ages 5-11 to providers in nearly half of Texas counties. Those will start landing in Texas pharmacies, pediatrics offices, health clinics and hospitals within a few days, state health officials said.
After the first federal shipment, others will continue on a weekly basis. The amounts will vary based on providers’ requests, officials said.
Most of the parents I know nowadays have older kids who are already vaccinated, and yet I know plenty more who will be ready and eager to get their kids vaxxed. As with every other instance of this vaccine, I expect there will be a big surge up front as all of the willing people stampede to get it done, followed by a long fallow period in which the reluctant, the folks with access issues, and eventually some of the holdouts who meet up with mandates of one form or another get around to it. The boost to the overall vaccination rate in the state should help keep things under control, more or less, through the winter. It’s good news for many, and we have been waiting for it. The Chron has more.