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CDC advisory panel recommends pediatric COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 through 11

Posted on by Kim Witbeck

Today, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of medical and public health experts convened by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), voted 14 to 0 to recommend the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 through 11. The Pfizer vaccine for this age group is a smaller dose (10 micrograms) than the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12+ (30 micrograms).

What happens next?

Next, the CDC director will review ACIP recommendations and provide formal guidance on the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children 5 through 11 years old.

After that, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup will assess the CDC guidance in light of the data, and provide their recommendations to the Governors of Oregon, California, Nevada, Washington and Utah. 

  • If recommended by the workgroup, Governor Brown will announce the decision. This could be as early as Wednesday morning.
  • OHA would then establish state guidance and policy regarding the administration of the Pfizer vaccine to youth ages 5 to 11 in Oregon. 

To learn more, read OHA’s news release about the ACIP recommendations and anticipated pediatric vaccine availability in Oregon.

Vaccinations remain the most effective tool for slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Oregon is working to make pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine available through Oregon’s federally qualified health centers, local public health authorities, pharmacies, doctor’s offices and pediatric clinics. Pfizer is shipping pediatric vaccine to states in batches. Oregon’s first batch arrived on Nov. 1, with additional shipments expected in the coming days. It may take a few weeks for vaccinators to be fully prepared to vaccinated children age 5 through 11.  

Call your provider or use the Get Vaccinated Oregon Vaccine Locator Map to find a provider near you that has pediatric doses of Pfizer available.

Pharmacies can now provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines to children age 3 and up

OHA has authorized pharmacies to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines to children age 3 and older (the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be authorized only for age 5 through 11 at this time). Not all pharmacies may be able to offer these vaccines to younger ages once the pediatric Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in Oregon. Before you go: