CDC Approves Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11

On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old with a unanimous vote of 14-0. This follows the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization for the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The vaccine was approved as a two-dose series at a lower dose (10 micrograms) than what is authorized for individuals ages 12 and older.

The CDC’s approval on Tuesday marked the last major regulatory hurdle for younger children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The White House also held a briefing and stated that the administration has already begun transferring 15 million vaccine doses from Pfizer to pediatricians’ offices, pharmacies, hospitals and health centers to facilitate vaccinations of younger children.