CDC Approves COVID-19 Vaccine For Kids 5 To 11

The CDC ACIP has had a meeting to discuss vaccinations for kids 5 to 11. This came after the FDA recommended the vaccine for the kids within the last week.

State health officials said providers throughout the state have already been able to place orders for vaccine. Officials said the vaccine should arrive before the all clear is given.

"We have seen quite a lot of COVID-19 infections in kids in the past few weeks," said Dr. Donna Tyungu, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with OU Health. "The numbers are going down and improving, but COVID-19 is now in the top 10 for causes of death in children."

That is why Tyungu said the approval of the Pfizer vaccine for kids 5 to 11 is crucial.

"There will be vaccine hesitancy and we know there will be people like me who are incredibly eager to get every child in my family vaccinated then there will be those who are going to wait and see," said Tyungu.

Providers through the state have already placed orders for children's vaccines in preparation for the approval. Oklahoma State Department of Health officials said they plan to receive more, week over week.

"There are thousands of doses available across the state today," said Buffy Heater, OSDH's assistant deputy commissioner of personal health services. "As we look at supply projections in the next week or two, we should have upwards of 130,000 doses on hand."

This version of the vaccine is a smaller dose for this age group and will be administered in a two-dose series, 21 days a part.

"They are creating vials for children. So the vials we got are purple topped with purple syringes and so the kids will be orange, and the dose is a third over what those over 12 get," said Tyungu.

Kids will need to have parental consent to get the vaccine.

Health officials said you will be able to get the vaccine at pharmacies, health departments and doctors' offices across the state once final approval is given by the CDC director and clinical guidance is sent out.

"Our hope is that by the end of the week, we would have all those things in place to be able to give shots," said Heater.

Doctors said if you have questions about giving your child the vaccine to talk with your pediatrician.