TAccording to the Biden Administration, children younger than 5 years old may receive their COVID-19 shots as early as June 21, provided that federal regulators allow such shots.
White House COVID-19 coordinator Ashish Jha outlined the administration’s planning for the last remaining ineligible age group to get shots. He said the Food and Drug Administration’s outside panel of advisers will meet on June 14-15 to evaluate the Pfizer and Moderna shots for younger kids. Shipments to doctors’ offices and pediatric care facilities would begin soon after FDA authorization, with the first shots possible the following week.
Jha stated that states could place orders for vaccines for children starting Friday and the administration had a supply of 10,000,000 doses. Jha said the delivery of vaccines across the nation may be delayed for a few more days and that vaccination appointments might not become widespread until then.
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“Our expectation is that within weeks every parent who wants their child to get vaccinated will be able to get an appointment,” Jha said.
This timeline will allow parents to ensure that their child is fully vaccinated by the start of next school year.
The Biden administration is pressing states to prioritize large-volume sites like children’s hospitals, and to make appointments available outside regular work hours to make it easier for parents to get their kids vaccinated.
According to the White House’s view, eliminating the largest group of people not yet eligible to receive vaccines will make it easier for some Americans to return to their pre-pandemic activities. This will increase confidence and help the country recover from the pandemic.
Jha acknowledged the “frustration” of parents of young children who have been waiting more than a year for shots for their kids.
“At the end of the day we all want to move fast, but we’ve got to get it right,” he said.
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