SEATTLE — The Food and Drug Administration has expanded Pfizer-BioNTech’s emergency use authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine to include children ages 12 to 15, but it still needs to clear another hurdle.
Soon, kids will be joining the line outside the mass-vaccination site at Lumen Field Event Center.
In anticipation of their arrival, pediatricians are working with the city to prepare the space.
Swedish Hospital staff said the focus is on removing distress from the process. One idea is to create pods or private areas where those younger than 16 can learn about vaccines with their parents.
Clinical trials show Pfizer’s vaccine was found to be 100% effective at preventing COVID-19 in children ages 12-15.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee will meet Wednesday to review the vaccine. If approved,17 million children and teenagers will be able to access the vaccine as soon as this week.
“The response to the vaccine was excellent and, in fact, it was even better in the younger age group than in the 16 to 25 age group,” said Dr. Peter Marks with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
But a recent study showed many parents will have to be convinced to immunize their children.
While nearly a third said they would get their children vaccinated as soon as possible, almost half said they would either wait to see how well the vaccine works or comply if schools require it.
A quarter of respondents said they won’t get their children vaccinated.
Meanwhile, demand for vaccinations has slowed at Lumen Field. Appointments are no longer needed.
The site can accommodate as many as 200 people in an hour.