COVID Vaccine for Children: When Can My Kid Get a Shot, Age Requirements, Where?

The White House announced Wednesday it has enough doses to vaccinate 28 million children against the coronavirus once the shots are authorized by federal agencies.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends shots for everyone over the age of 12 to help protect them against the virus and prevent its spread.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is approved for people 16 and older and has emergency authorization for 12- to 15-year-olds. The Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccines are authorized for use in people 18 and up.

Last month, Pfizer formally requested emergency use authorization for its vaccine to be administered to children between 5 and 11. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) independent advisory committee will meet next week to discuss the matter, and the CDC will convene on November 2 and 3.

Jeffrey Zients, the White House's coronavirus response coordinator, said Wednesday the administration expects the FDA and CDC decisions on Pfizer's vaccine for kids 5 to 11 in "the next couple of weeks."

"We know millions of parents have been waiting for COVID-19 vaccine for children in this age group," Zients told reporters, "and should the FDA and CDC authorize the vaccine, we will be ready to get shots in arms."

The administration said it will equip more than 25,000 pediatric and primary care offices to provide vaccinations for children, plus tens of thousands of other provider locations that serve children, including pharmacies, schools and community centers.

It's also partnering with the Children's Hospital Association to set up vaccination sites at over 100 children's hospital systems across the country in November and through the end of the calendar year.

Zients noted in Wednesday's briefing that the administration will take some new approaches, as "kids have different needs than adults."

In its memo, the White House noted that the Pfizer/BioNTech pediatric vaccine would be shipped in smaller packaging configurations of 10-dose vials in cartons of 10 vials each. This will make it easier for physicians' offices and smaller, community-based providers to offer the doses.

The vaccine will also come with other supplies that providers need to serve kids, including smaller needles.

The administration will also be starting a public education campaign to get information about the vaccine out to families. The government will "invest heavily in trusted messengers," including schools, state and local health departments, faith leaders and community organizations, to increase confidence in the shots. Forums will also be held so parents can ask pediatricians questions.

"To ensure that every parent can get answers from trusted sources, the surgeon general will enlist pediatricians and community leaders to talk to Americans directly via popular media and social media channels and through visits to hard-hit and high-risk communities," the White House said.