May 25, 2021 - Health

Children and teens are next in line for COVID vaccine

Half of U.S. adults are now fully vaccinated, less than six months after Pfizer got the first emergency authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine.

By the numbers: More than 287 million doses have been administered in the U.S.

The big picture: Just 39% of the overall population is fully vaccinated if you include people under 18.

The current rate of 1.8 million daily doses reflects a decline since mid-April, Bloomberg reports.

Teens should see widespread availability before school starts in the fall.

Moderna said today its vaccine is safe and 100% effective at protecting against COVID in people between ages 12 and 17, citing a Phase 3 trial of more than 3,700 participants.
Pfizer's vaccine received an FDA emergency use authorization for 12- to 15-year-olds earlier this month. It already had approval for use among those 16 and older.

About 14% of the nation's kids ages 12-15 have received their first shot, AP reports.

Among teens ages 16 and 17, that number goes up to 34% and about 22% have had both shots.
Depending on the state and even county, minors may be required to have a parent present.

What's next: Pfizer plans to apply for emergency use for kids ages 2–11 in September, NPR reports, and Moderna is in the trial phase for kids.

The bottom line: It increasingly looks like most who want a vaccine may be able to get one by year's end.