Pediatricians are preparing to vaccinate the youngest COVID-19 shot recipients yet
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Updated: 7:11 AM EDT May 11, 2021
Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN
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Updated: 7:11 AM EDT May 11, 2021
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DOUG: THE EYEOPENER’S JENNIFER EAGAN IS LIVE IN BOSTON WITH WHAT FAMILIES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CHANGES ON THE WAY. JENNIFER: AND THERE WILL BE A LOT TO WATCH IN THE COMING DAYS AS KIDS AGES 12-15 ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE. HERE’S WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW. YESTERDAY, THE FDA AGREED TO EXTEND PFIZER’S EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION TO THAT AGE GROUP. TOMORROW, A CDC PANEL OF OUTSIDE EXPERTS WILL MEET TO DISCUSS HOW THAT ROLLOUT SHOULD HAPPEN, WITH A VOTE EXPECTED THAT SAME DAY. THIS MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS IS ALREADY PREPARING, SAYING KIDS IN THAT AGE GROUP CAN NOW PRE-REGISTER FOR THEIR SHOTS. THE MOVE FOLLOWS CLINICAL TRIALS THAT SHOWED THE PFIZER TWO-DOSE VACCINE WAS SAFE, AND 100% EFFECTIVE. NO KIDS IN THAT STUDY WHO GOT THE VACCINE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS. THEY EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SIDE EFFECTS TO THOSE SEEN IN YOUNGER, HEALTHY ADULTS. DOCTORS SAY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID. >> THEY ARE CERTAINLY CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING INFECTION. EVERYTHING I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEM IS VERY ENCOURAGING. JENNIFER: GOVERNOR BAKER SAYS THE STATE IS STILL WORKING OUT THE BEST WAY TO OFFER SHOTS TO THIS AGE GROUP, WHICH COULD INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM VACCINATIONS IN SCHOOLS TO POP UPS IN SUPERMARKET PARKING LOTS. PFIZER STARTED TESTING T VACCINE IN KIDS AGES 5 TO 11 IN MARCH, AND EXTENDED THE TRIAL TO THOSE AS YOUNG AS TWO LAST MONT