Youth in West Virginia ages 12-15 may soon have access to the Pfizer vaccine. The company is waiting on the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the use of its vaccine in this age group.
State and local health officials are on stand-by to make sure kids can get the vaccine as soon as possible, following authorization. The West Virginia Department of Education has already brought vaccine clinics to most high schools in the state, hoping to target students ages 16-18.
West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Clayton Burch said in a press conference earlier this week that schools will keep up the same momentum for younger kids.
CHARLESTON â West Virginia officials said Wednesday they are preparing for an anticipated federal approval of expanding use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the 12-to-15 age group, while continuing to address the stateâs âhitting a wallâ on vaccination rates.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds as early as this week, according to news reports.
James Hoyer, director of West Virginiaâs COVID-19 interagency task force, said the state and its Board of Education are prepared logistically to proceed with vaccinating a new age group.
âWe do have plenty of Pfizer vaccine available for that effort,â Hoyer said during the state COVID-19 briefing Wednesday.
For The Inter-Mountain
CHARLESTON As West Virginia struggles to get teenagers and young adults vaccinated for COVID-19, the state is preparing for the likely approval of middle schoolers for vaccinations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve next week a request from Pfizer/BioNTech to allow for use of their two-dose vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15. The request would require the FDA amending Pfizer’s previous emergency authorization.
The move is part of a three-phase program introduced by President Joe Biden on Tuesday to get 70 percent of all U.S. adults partially vaccinated and 160 million eligible Americans fully vaccinated by July 1, requiring more than 100 million shots over the next 60 days.“Our new phase will focus on three areas. First, kids, children between the ages of 12 and 15 years of age,” Biden said. “They are not yet eligible for a vaccine. The FDA’s scientists are currently reviewing the data to decide if, if a
CHARLESTON As West Virginia struggles to get teenagers and young adults vaccinated for COVID-19, the state is preparing for the likely approval of middle sc
CHARLESTON As West Virginia struggles to get teenagers and young adults vaccinated for COVID-19, the state is preparing for the likely approval of middle sc