By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Author
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands and thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses have been ordered for young children in anticipation of doable federal authorization subsequent week, White Home officers say.
The federal government allowed pharmacies and states to begin putting orders final week, with 5 million doses initially obtainable — half of them photographs made by Pfizer and the opposite half the vaccine produced by Moderna, senior administration officers mentioned.
As of this week, about 1.45 million of the two.5 million obtainable doses of Pfizer have been ordered, and about 850,000 of accessible Moderna photographs have been ordered, officers mentioned. Extra orders are anticipated within the coming days.
Younger kids are the final group of People who haven’t been really helpful to get COVID-19 vaccinations. As much as about 20 million U.S. kids beneath 5 would change into eligible for vaccination if the federal government authorizes one or each photographs.
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It’s not clear how widespread the photographs shall be. A latest survey suggests only one in 5 dad and mom of younger kids would get their youngsters vaccinated straight away.
And public well being officers have been dissatisfied at what number of older U.S. kids, who’ve been eligible for photographs for months, have but to be vaccinated: Lower than one-third of youngsters ages 5 to 11 have gotten the 2 really helpful doses, in response to authorities figures.
“As we go down within the age teams, we see decrease and decrease uptake” of vaccines, mentioned Dr. Lucia Abascal of the California Division of Public Well being.
Pfizer has requested FDA to authorize three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 6 month to 4 years. Every dose is one-tenth of the quantity adults obtain.
Moderna has requested FDA to authorize two photographs for youths ages 6 months to five years, every containing 1 / 4 of the dose given to adults.
The Meals and Drug Administration authorizes the usage of vaccines, whereas the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention points suggestions to docs and the general public about utilizing them.
An FDA advisory committee is scheduled to satisfy Tuesday and Wednesday to evaluation information from the 2 corporations. Officers say they anticipate a FDA resolution shortly after that assembly.
A CDC advisory committee is scheduled for subsequent Friday and Saturday, with a CDC resolution anticipated quickly after.
Vaccinations ought to start in earnest as early as June 21, White Home COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha instructed reporters final week.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Division of Science Schooling. The AP is solely answerable for all content material.
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