Washington health leaders urge patience as they await Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to be OK'd for teens
The FDA’s emergency use authorization is one of three hurdles standing in the way of administering COVID-19 vaccines to kids 12 and up in Washington state.
Author: Steve Soliz
Updated: 7:16 PM PDT May 11, 2021
SEATTLE — While parents across the state work to get COVID-19 vaccines for their teenagers, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is asking people to be patient as they wait for further guidance.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for kids between the ages of 12 and 15 this week. But the DOH is waiting for similar guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup before giving their blessing to local providers to start administering doses to teens.