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One more step before COVID vaccine approved for 12 to 15 year-olds in Pa
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//May 11, 2021
One more step before COVID vaccine approved for 12 to 15 year-olds in Pa
Dawn Ouellette Nixon//May 11, 2021//
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that one more step is needed to make Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine available to 12- to 15-year-olds.
Before vaccinations in this age group can begin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices needs to review the data and make an official recommendation to use the vaccine for this age group, according to the Department of Health. ACIP is scheduled to discuss the recommendation on Wednesday, May 12.
“We are thrilled that the FDA’s research has determined the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective for individuals as young as 12…” said acting secretary of health Alison Beam in a statement. “Once all of the approvals are in place Pennsylvania vaccine providers will be ready to begin vaccinating these young people to add them to the more than 5.7 million Pennsylvanians who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine so far.”
Vaccine providers in Pennsylvania are being instructed to be ready for vaccination requests for people in this age group later this week. In Pennsylvania, immunizations, like other general medical services, require consent. The Department of Health recommends that vaccine providers follow their current policy for vaccinations of minors.
