Feds Approve COVID Shots for Younger Teens

Younger teens in the United States will be able to get protection from serious illness from the coronavirus.

The Federal government has announced approval for the expansion of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as 12.  Previously, Pfizer was approved for emergency application for people over the age of 16.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday, May 10 that the shot is safe and offers strong protection for younger teens based on testing of more than 2,000 U.S. volunteers.

All that is left is for a federal vaccine panel to issue the recommendation to clear the administration of the shots, which could come at any time.  Some health officials have predicted vaccines for children aged 12 to 15 could start to be give as early as May 12 or 13.

Most vaccines rolling out worldwide, including the Moderna and the Janssen Johnson & Johnson have been authorized for adults age 16 and older.

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The latest news is welcome for U.S. families struggling to decide what activities are safe to resume when the youngest family members remain unvaccinated.

While some are cheering the news, others are less certain saying they will wait to see what happens to early recipients. Others say they will wait until schools require students be vaccinated before being allowed back to class while others have said they will not allow their children to be vaccinated.

Getting younger people protected against COVID-19 is being seen as integral to achieving so-called 'herd-immunity' to stop the spread of the pandemic and the incidents of mutations of the virus.