CDC Director Walensky calls it a 'monumental day' after agency approves vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11
During the White House COVID-19 response team briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it was a "monumental day" after the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine was approved on Tuesday evening for children ages 5 to 11.
Video Transcript
- Today is truly a monumental day in the course of this pandemic and one that many of us have been eager to see. Nearly 12 months have passed since the initial recommendation of COVID-19 vaccination for those 16 years and older. And since that day, many of us have been asking, when will we be able to expand this protection to our younger children? Yesterday, CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met to review the latest data from Pfizer on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in children 5 to 11. The committee also discussed in detail the clinical need for vaccination in these younger children.
Throughout the day, I listened intently to the committee's open, transparent, and robust discussion. Following their unanimous vote, I endorse their strong recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old should be vaccinated with the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. With this vote, we are now expanding vaccine recommendations to more than 28 million children in the United States. Distribution of pediatric vaccinations across the country started this week, with plans to scale up to full capacity starting the week of November 8.
I want to speak directly to parents about this recommendation. We have followed the scientific process. We have done our due diligence. Please know we have thoroughly reviewed all of the available safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy data before recommending this vaccine for your child. In clinical trials, vaccination was found to be nearly 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 among children ages 5 to 11. In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild, self-limiting, and similar to those seen in adults with other vaccines recommended for children. The most common side effect was a sore arm.
