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Vaccination

Retailers Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to Adolescents

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Retailers such as Walmart, Hy-Vee, and Stop & Shop are expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to adolescents, following the FDA's emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for adolescents 12 to 15 years old. This expansion allows millions more Americans to get vaccinated, bringing the country closer to returning to a sense of normalcy. Retailers are now offering walk-in COVID shots and appointments at their pharmacies nationwide, making it easy for eligible customers to get vaccinated. The vaccine is administered by qualified pharmacists and requires parental or guardian consent for minors.

Key Takeaways:

  • Walmart and Sam's Club pharmacists began administering the Pfizer vaccine to children ages 12 to 15 at pharmacies where it's offered, following the FDA's EUA.
  • Hy-Vee began administering the Pfizer vaccine to children ages 12 to 15 as of May 13, in line with the FDA's EUA and the CDC's approval.
  • Stop & Shop announced that six of its in-store pharmacies in Long Island, N.Y., are now offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 12 and older.
  • Minors getting the shot must have parental or guardian consent, and a parent or guardian should accompany minors to both their first and second doses.
  • Retailers are offering walk-in COVID shots and appointments at their pharmacies nationwide, making it easy for eligible customers to get vaccinated.
  • The vaccine is administered by qualified pharmacists and requires parental or guardian consent for minors.
  • Walmart's Get Out The Vaccine (GOTV) campaign aims to raise public awareness of the effectiveness and safety of coronavirus immunizations.
  • The FDA granted EUA to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on May 10, and the CDC approved the vaccination's expanded age designation on May 12.
  • Almost 17 million more Americans can now get vaccinated due to the authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for the 12-to-15 age group.
  • About 3 million COVID cases have been reported overall among individuals under age 17.

Statistics:

  • 46.8% of the U.S. population had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose through the early morning of May 14.
  • 36.2% of the U.S. population had been fully vaccinated through the early morning of May 14.
  • 268.4 million vaccines had been administered of the 341.9 million delivered by manufacturers through the early morning of May 14.
  • 84.2% of seniors had received at least one dose (72.1% fully vaccinated).
  • 59.1% of Americans ages 18 and older had gotten at least one shot (46.1% fully vaccinated).
  • 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in people ages 11 to 17 were reported to the CDC from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021.

Sources:

  • Russell Redman, "Walmart, Hy-Vee, Stop & Shop Expand COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to Adolescents," May 14, 2021.
  • FDA press release, "FDA Expands Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to Include Adolescents 12 Through 15 Years of Age," May 10, 2021.
  • CDC press release, "CDC Expands Eligibility for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine to Include Adolescents 12-15," May 12, 2021.
  • CDC data, "COVID Data Tracker: Vaccine Distribution," May 14, 2021.
  • President Joe Biden, remarks on COVID vaccination progress, May 14, 2021.

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