Virginia’s Adolescents Won’t Be Eligible For Pfizer’s Covid-19 Vaccine Until the CDC Approves It

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“Flu Vaccination Grippe” by Daniel Paquet is licensed with CC BY 2.0.

By: Aurora Ayala, Journalist

On Monday, May 9, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modified their Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine so that teenagers ages 12-15 could get it as well. This is a major milestone in the fight against Covid, but not everyone can get the vaccine right away. Virginia’s vaccine coordinator said on Monday in a statement; “Virginia would not begin offering the vaccine to those 12 and older until the CDC approves doing so.”

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP for short, will meet on May 12,2021, and update its recommendation as to who should receive the Pfizer vaccine. If the CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky issues a formal recommendation upon the committee’s approval, health departments can officially begin administering vaccines to 12-15 year olds.

The vaccine doses for adolescents are the exact same as the adult doses, and Pfizer said that there were minimal side effects such as a slight fever or a sore arm.

RELATED STORIES:

https://dailyprogress.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/va-still-needs-to-wait-for-cdc-before-starting-vaccinations-for-ages-12-15/article_12000392-b819-510f-911c-ac52ce3818fb.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-authorizes-pfizer-vaccine-children-12-15-n1266136

https://www.nbc12.com/2021/05/10/state-vaccine-coordinator-va-wont-offer-covid-vaccine-those-until-cdc-approves/