Buffalo, NY (WBEN) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 12 to 15 by next week, according to a federal official and a person familiar with the process, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year.
The announcement is set to come a month after the company found that its shot, which is already authorized for those age 16 and older, also provided protection for the younger group.
The issue of vaccinating younger teens presents a decision for parents as they weigh the factors, but one local pediatrician says he hopes the approval comes soon to help vaccinate as much of the community as possible.
Dr. Steven Lana calls it fantastic news and looks forward to the expansion of vaccinations to younger Americans.
"We've been hoping and waiting for this, and it's going to bring us one step closer to having a safe, normal community, making sure kids can go to school, and get us closer to herd immunity," says Lana. "I'm hopefully optimistic that not long after we get the 12 year olds immunized, we'll be able to immunize children five and above."
Lana says this gets pediatricians involved in the game. "We've been approached as late as a couple of weeks ago, so we're happy to offer COVID vaccine to 12 year olds, 16 year olds, 18 year olds, and 20 year olds," says Lana.
Lana says there are several important reasons kids need to be immunized.
"There still are children getting sick, so even thought they don't bear the brunt as adults do, they can still get sick, and they can still spread it," says Lana. "It's important to keep them healthy, it's important to keep the family and community members open. It will also allow them to participate in all the community activities they want to, including going to Bills and Sabres games."
For those still skeptical, Lana has this message.
"This is a very safe, very effective vaccine. I would give it to my children if they were 12 years old. They are all grown children and they have been vaccinated. I could never recommend something for my patients that I wouldn't recommend for my children," says Lana.
While younger people are at dramatically lower risk of serious side effects from COVID-19, they have made up a larger share of new virus cases as a majority of U.S. adults have been at least partially vaccinated and as higher-risk activities like indoor dining and contact sports have resumed in most of the country. Officials hope that extending vaccinations to teens will further accelerate the nation's reduced virus caseload and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruptions this fall.
The U.S. has ordered at least 300 million doses of the Pfizer shot by the end of July, enough to protect 150 million people.
