The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech is safe and effective enough to give to younger teens of 12-15 and authorizes its use.
Last week President Joe Biden said that 20,000 pharmacy locations are ready to begin vaccinating youngsters As soon as the necessary approvals come through. The vaccine also will be available soon through pediatricians’ clinics.
BREAKING: Today, with @BioNTech_Group, we announced @US_FDA expanded the Emergency Use Authorization of our #COVID19 vaccine to adolescents 12 to 15 years of age. Learn more: https://t.co/7C2YfXK868 pic.twitter.com/c69qUmRRzU
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) May 10, 2021
The president said. “And if teens are on the move this summer, they can get their first shot in one place and a second shot elsewhere.” Older teens ages 16- 17 have been allowed to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine since it was authorized in December.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines also authorized for use in the USA, have not been available to minors because studies are still underway.
“Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement Monday.
