WASHINGTON D.C. — President Joe Biden announced today his plan to get millions of children vaccinated against COVID- 19.
“Today, the Biden Administration is announcing a plan to ensure that, if a vaccine is authorized, for children ages 5-11, it is quickly distributed and made conveniently and equitably available to families across the country,” said the White House.
According to the President’s plan, his administration will make available enough vaccines for the nearly 28 million children in the U.S., ages 5 to 11 years old.
The President says he will also increase the number of vaccination locations to include doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, community health centers, and school- and community-based sites.
The administration said, “They have partnered with the Children’s Hospital Association to work with over 100 children’s hospital systems across the country to set up vaccination sites in November and through the end of the calendar year.”
Federal pharmacy programs will also be involved with the President’s plan. In a statement released today, “tens of thousands of pharmacies across the country will offer the vaccine to their local communities.”
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the White House said, “will be launching a public education campaign to reach parents and guardians with accurate information about the vaccine and the risks that COVID-19 poses to children.”
Currently, adults and children as young as 12-years-old can receive the vaccine. Pfizer’s, request to authorize its use on children aged 5 to 11 will be considered by the FDA’s vaccine advisers next week.