Wisconsin health officials gave the green light Wednesday for vaccinators to start giving shots to minors 12 and older beginning Thursday. The decision followed approvals from the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vaccinators have been preparing for this approval and some have already started scheduling appointments for the age group. With cases rising among children, health officials said vaccinating this age group could help prevent outbreaks in schools and reduce the spread in surrounding communities.
While children and teenagers may be less likely to develop severe symptoms from COVID-19, they can still transmit the virus and occasionally develop severe cases. The arrival of the more contagious B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant has made young people more vulnerable.