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COVID-19

COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Expands to 5-11 Year Olds in the U.S.

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The United States has entered a new phase in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with shots now available to millions of elementary-age children. This development comes after more than 18 months of illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, as well as disrupted education. With the federal government promising enough vaccine to protect the nation's 28 million kids ages 5-11, pediatricians' offices, pharmacies, hospitals, schools, and health clinics are poised to begin administering the shots.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for emergency use in children aged 5-11, clearing two final hurdles: a recommendation from CDC advisers and a green light from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Pediatricians' offices, pharmacies, hospitals, schools, and health clinics will begin administering the shots, with many locations planning mass vaccination events in the coming days.
  • Thousands of pediatricians pre-ordered doses, and Pfizer began shipments soon after the Food and Drug Administration's decision to authorize emergency use.
  • The vaccine requires two doses three weeks apart, plus two more weeks for full protection to kick in, meaning children who get vaccinated before Thanksgiving will be covered by Christmas.
  • A Pfizer study of 2,268 children found the vaccine was almost 91% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infections.
  • The FDA examined 3,100 vaccinated kids in concluding the shots are safe.
  • At least 94 children aged 5 to 11 have died from COVID-19, more than 8,300 have been hospitalized, and over 5,000 have developed a serious inflammatory condition linked to the coronavirus.
  • Black and Latino youngsters, as well as those with chronic conditions, are among the hardest-hit groups.

Statistics:

  • 28 million kids ages 5-11 are eligible to receive the vaccine.
  • Pfizer expects to make 19,000 shipments totaling about 11 million doses in the next several days.
  • Millions more doses will be available to order on a weekly basis.
  • The vaccine is 91% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infections in children, according to a Pfizer study.
  • At least 94 children aged 5 to 11 have died from COVID-19.
  • Over 8,300 children aged 5-11 have been hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Pfizer
  • Kaiser Family Foundation
  • American Academy of Family Physicians

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