WASHINGTON — The Biden administration revealed its plan for vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 on Wednesday, anticipating authorization from the Food and Drug Administration in the coming weeks.
“Kids have different needs than adults, and our operational plan is geared to meet those specific needs, including by offering vaccinations in settings that parents and kids are familiar with and trust,” said Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator.
The administration has secured enough doses to vaccinate all 5-to-11-year-olds and has modified the packaging, including smaller needles, to allow for pediatricians and smaller providers to vaccinate children, Zients said.
Zients said the administration has enrolled more than 25,000 pediatricians and primary care providers to administer vaccines, and they’ve partnered with the Children’s Hospital Association to set up vaccination sites in over 100 children’s hospitals.
“We will ensure that vaccinations for kids ages 5 through 11 are easy, convenient, and accessible to every family,” Zients said.
In addition to doctor’s offices and hospitals, children will be able to get vaccinated in pharmacies, community health centers, rural health centers or via vaccination clinics brought directly to schools.
The goal is to make sure the administration is “operationally ready” if the vaccine gets approved for the 28 million children ages 5 to 11, Zients said.
Pfizer and BioNTech asked the FDA to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 through 11 earlier this month, and the FDA’s independent advisory committee will meet on Oct. 26. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet in early November, potentially paving the way for a full authorization and recommendation.
“Pending the CDC’s decision, we’ll ship about 15 million doses out nationwide in those next few days, with millions more going out each and every week to make sure we’re matching the doses with where they’re most needed,” Zients said.
The administration is making plans now because these preparations can take time, according to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy.
“That’s one of the reasons why this planning has to start so early,” Murthy said. “It can’t wait until a final decision is rendered, although that final decision is clearly up to the FDA and the CDC.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease doctor, said new research shows that for the Delta variant — the predominant strain in the U.S. — children get infected and transmit the disease as easily as adults do.
“If we can get the overwhelming majority of those 28 million children vaccinated, I think that would play a major role in diminishing the spread of infection in the community,” Fauci said.