Adolescents could be getting vaccinated against COVID-19 within days, a Utah doctor said Monday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of the Pfizer vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds, a decision that still must be endorsed by another federal agency.
“Probably by the end of the week at places that are already offering vaccine the eligibility will change to where anybody 12 and older can come in, whereas now it’s 16 and older,” said Dr. Andrew Pavia, University of Utah Health chief of pediatric infectious disease and director of epidemiology at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.
Before that can happen, Pavia said a committee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still must make recommendations for how the vaccine will be used by providers. Those recommendations, which include dosing and what side effects to look for, are supposed to come Wednesday, he said.
“We don’t expect any big surprises there,” Pavia told reporters during a virtual news conference held shortly after the authorization was announced. But he said providers need to wait for what he termed “our marching orders to start vaccinating.”
He called the FDA’s decision “a great step forward in the fight against the pandemic. It’s great news for children. I think every pediatrician in the state is incredibly happy to hear it.” Dropping the age limit for vaccinations to 12 years old means “we can really accelerate the return to a normal life.”
Vaccinating youth against the virus “may not seem totally comfortable for every parent out there,” Pavia said, stressing the importance of speaking to their pediatricians and family doctors about their concerns. “I can say with a lot of confidence that this really is safe and effective,” he said.
The Utah Department of Health welcomed the news.
“There are approximately 215,000 Utah children in this age group and expanding vaccine access to them will push us even closer to the finish line in our battle against COVID-19,” said Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director of the department. “Data presented by Pfizer indicate its vaccine is highly effective at preventing COVID-19 in this age group. In fact, none of the clinical trial participants who received the vaccine ever became infected with COVID-19.”
Last week, news reports said the authorization of the vaccine for those 12-15 was being readied. Pfizer, maker of the only vaccine approved for use by 16- and 17-year olds in the United States, has announced plans to seek approval in stages for children ages 2 to 11 in September, and possibly infants as young as 6 months later in the year.