The Food and Drug Administration has recommended COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-to-11. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee approved Pfizer’s request for Emergency Authorization Use on Oct. 26.
Pfizer had submitted data that showed the vaccine efficacy rate of 90.7% in participants in the study.
“We appreciated the opportunity to present our clinical data demonstrating the safety and high efficacy of our COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to under 12 years of age,” said Dr. Kathrin Jansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research & Development for Pfizer. “COVID-19 is an ongoing threat for the more than 28 million young children in this age group in the U.S., as they remain at risk for this infection. About 10% of all weekly U.S. cases occur in children 5 to under 12 years of age with a potential risk of complications.”
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The dose recommended for the younger children is one-third the dose given adults. There will be two shots, but they will be given three weeks apart. Adults now get the second dose after two weeks.
Final approval still must come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision is expected by Nov. 2.
“Fortunately, these decisions are actually evolving very quickly and so we anticipate seeing full approval for this age group by November 3rd or 4th,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. “This means we can start vaccinating 5-to-11-year-olds by late next week potentially.”
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If approved, it will make about 28-million children eligible for the vaccinations. Combined with people aged 12 and older being eligible, this would mean nearly all the U.S. population can be vaccinated.
Bell said they are working with pediatricians in anticipation of the CDC approval. She said pediatricians are already well-versed because they administer vaccinations for children beginning at birth.
“There is a training plan that basically just gives information about the re-constitution of the vaccine and how the product can be handled for storage and handling to make sure that it maintains its potency,” she said. “The actual administration in pediatricians’ offices, there is a training plan to bring them up to date on what’s included in the manufacturer’s instructions for the administration of these doses.”
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Currently, DHEC says 54.7% of eligible South Carolinians are fully vaccinated. Another 62.3% have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
Georgia reached 50% of eligible residents being fully vaccinated on Oct. 25.
“Having 50% of Georgians fully vaccinated is a positive step toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic in the state,” said Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “However, COVID-19 continues to spread in Georgia, particularly in areas of low vaccination rates, causing severe illness and death – deaths that are preventable.”
The City of Augusta has scheduled a series of vaccination clinics through early December.
Nov. 4 from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Warren Road Community Center, 300 Warren Rd.
Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Robert Howard Community Center, 103 Diamond Lakes Way
Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Augusta Mall, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd.
Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Jamestown Community Center & Park, 3647 Karleen Rd.
Dec. 4 from noon – 4 p.m. at Carrie J. Mays Family Life Center, 1014 11th Ave.
The clinics will offer first, second and booster shots. The vaccine being used will vary by location.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
