Under 5 COVID Vaccine Could Be Available In IL Later This Month

Chicago IL

03 February, 2022

10:25 AM

Description

CHICAGO — Children younger than 5 in Illinois could start getting their coronavirus vaccinations as soon as the end of February if the Food and Drug Administration approves an emergency authorization request filed Tuesday by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech. The filing clears the way for a two-shot vaccine regimen for children under 5 — the first vaccine available to very young children, The Washington Post reported. Older children ages 5-12 can already be vaccinated. Illinois health officials said this week that they were looking forward to making the vaccines available to young children as a way of expanding the protection they say comes with the shot in the fight against COVID-19. "We have many tools to slow and control the spread of COVID-19, the best of all the vaccine," Illinois health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health. "As we move towards coexisting with COVID-19, it is important that we are able to offer as much protection as possible from COVID-19-related hospitalizations for all ages." State health officials said they will IDPH conduct joint webinars with the Illinois chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics once it receives more information from the CDC on the authorization. Here are four things to know: 1. Third Dose Will Likely Be Needed The early data on vaccines for younger children, who receive dosages that contain about one-tenth the amount of vaccine as adult shots, showed they were safe for that age group and produced an immune response. But when Pfizer said it was less effective at preventing COVID-19 in kids ages 2-5, regulators urged the company to add a third shot to the vaccine regimen, believing it would boost immunity as it does in adults, The Associated Press reported. 2. The FDA Reversed Course Though it had encouraged Pfizer to develop a booster shot similar to the one authorized for other age groups, the FDA asked the company to submit its application for a two-dose regimen for approval this month. 3. Two-Step Process Speeds Up The Process Pfizer could come back later and ask the FDA for another emergency authorization for the third dose if it's supported by data. Approving the two-dose regimen now gets the shots into young children's arms about a month sooner than previously estimated, assuming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention greenlights the shots. 4. Vaccinating Young Kids Gets Parents Back To Work The Biden administration believes vaccinating children is critical to keeping schools and day care centers open, therefore freeing up their parents to return to the workforce. The Associated Press contributed reporting.