Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use in Adolescents in Another Important Action in Fight Against Pandemic

Earlier today, the FDA expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12-15 years old after a clinical trial showed the vaccine is safe and extremely effective for the age group.
But the vaccine isn’t available to adolescents just yet.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to consider recommending use of the Pfizer vaccine in youth 12-15 years old. If the CDC recommends the use for adolescents, then there will be one more step before youth are eligible to get vaccinated in Washington.
Washington state – along with Oregon, California, Nevada and Colorado – participates in an additional expert review of vaccines, called the Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. The workgroup will also review the safety data and make a recommendation about the use of Pfizer vaccine in youth 12-15 years old. This process begins after the CDC recommendation and typically takes 1-2 days.
If the CDC and Western Pact workgroup recommend the vaccine for youth 12-15 years old, parents can then schedule appointments at one of the local sites administering Pfizer vaccine.
You can read more about the FDA announcement, including information from the clinical trial involving youth 12-15 years, here: https://www.fda.gov/.../coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda...