Have you felt jealous watching friends and neighbors get their vaccinations while you’re still waiting for your turn?
As more states expand their eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine, some teenagers, in particular as young as 16 or 17 years old, may be eligible for vaccines if they work on the front lines or have underlying health conditions.
Trish Riley, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP), told Today that at least 37 states allow teens to receive their shot for COVID-19.
So far, however, only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved to be administered to teens as young as 16.
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Whether you need to find out for yourself, a family member or a loved one, here is what you need to know about the rules around getting vaccines for teens.
Are teens eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Yes, but only in some states.
The NASHP confirmed that all teens 16 and older can receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Mississippi, Utah, and Alaska. By April 5, Connecticut plans to allow everyone 16 and up to get vaccinated, as does Georgia. Pennsylvania currently considers only teens with medical conditions eligible. In North Carolina, front-line workers, which can include those aged 16 and 17-year-olds, can be vaccinated.
Check your local vaccine website
Parents should check their state or community’s vaccine website to see if this information is available online.
"To be fair, states don't always know what their allocation is going to be, and so they have a further challenge to make sure they get the drugs where they're most needed," Riley explained.
Call your state's department of health
If the information is unavailable online, you can try asking a representative from your local health department.
Ask local pharmacies
"Some states have allocated Pfizer to (pharmacies) to make it readily available, so definitely after (parents) look at who's eligible, they can look to their local pharmacies," Riley said.
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