COVID vaccines for kids are getting closer
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Millions of kids under 12 could begin getting COVID-19 shots "within the first week or two of November," NIAID director Anthony Fauci said on ABC News' "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" over the weekend.
Why it matters: This would be a major milestone for getting approximately 28 million more kids protected as they prepare to gather with family during the holidays and spend more time indoors due to cold weather.
- Kids accounted for more than a quarter of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. as of Oct. 14, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Driving the news: FDA regulators said Friday that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children far outweigh the risks for children ages 5 to 11.
- A key FDA advisory committee plans to meet Tuesday to discuss shots for that age group. The CDC's independent advisory committee will meet Nov. 2–3.
What to watch: The White House rolled out its plan last week for getting kids' shots to pediatricians and pharmacies, including modifying its packaging.
- Clear messaging is an especially high priority after the rollout for booster doses for some adults faced criticism, Vox reported.
- "Our messaging on boosters has been a mess," Brown University's Ashish Jha said Friday on the SiriusXM show "Doctor Radio Reports."
Yes, but: While many parents are eager to get their gets vaccinated, there are lingering concerns about how many parents may not feel comfortable vaccinating young children.
- A recent Ipsos poll found a third of American parents of children under 12 — including many who were vaccinated — said they would not get a vaccine for their child "right away."
- CDC director Rochelle Walensky acknowledged the challenge in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace on Sunday.
- There are a lot of parents "who are ready to get their children vaccinated right away and we know we have a lot of work ahead of us just as we did with the initial vaccine," she said.
