CDC ready to quickly roll out 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for young children

Parents eager to vaccinate their young children may be relieved over the news that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released.

The CDC released a document on their website that outlines plans to roll out 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for children under the age of 5 by Feb. 21.

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The plan is dependent on the US Food and Drug Administration's emergency authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children 6 months to 5-years-old.

FDA advisors are expected to meet on Feb. 15 and discuss the request for emergency authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The CDC's vaccine advisors will then meet and make its recommendation, as the CDC director must officially approve it before the vaccine can be administered for children in this age group.

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Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, said on Wednesday that the United States will be prepared to roll out the vaccine for all 18 million children between the ages of 6 months and 5-years-old after the FDA and CDC make their recommendations.

"We can start packing and shipping the vaccine once FDA makes its decision," Zients said.

Pfizer and BioNTech are pushing for authorization of a two-dose vaccine, and are still testing a three-dose regimen for the age group. They plan to submit data on a third dose in the coming months.

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"This vaccine is specifically formulated for these young kids," Zients said. "So we're launching a new program especially for kids under 5. The planning process is well underway. CDC is working with states to help them prepare. We've secured enough vaccine supply for all kids in this age group, all 18 million. We have enough needles, syringes and kits, and these are all specially formulated or made for this age group to send alongside the vaccine."

"We're working closely with pediatricians and family doctors and children's hospitals and pharmacies to make sure the vaccine is available at thousands of locations across the country," Zients said. "So we will be prepared for those parents that are eager to get their kids vaccinated."

As of Feb. 2, there have been 8.6 million children between ages 5 and 11, or 30%, that have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. 6.2 million, or 22%, of children in the age group have been fully vaccinated.

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