Western states authorize COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 following FDA, CDC approval
A western states governmental health advisory group has found that two popular COVID-19 vaccines currently in use for adults and older children are safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old.
The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup came to the conclusion on the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines unanimously.
The Washington State Department of Health said last week it would begin supplying healthcare providers with vaccines once they were approved for children in that age group.
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the use of the vaccines in children as young as 6 months old. On Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirmed that decision. On Sunday, the Workgroup followed with its approval.
The Workgroup, a consortium of Washington, Oregon, Nevada and California immunization, public health, academic and other experts, reviews vaccine trials, safety and efficacy and other information to independently provide recommendations to leaders in those states.
Until last week, vaccines were only available for children 5 and older.
About 74.4% of the state population 5 and older, including military populations, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of May 9, according to DOH data. However, vaccine uptake has slowed in recent months as the pandemic entered its third year and many safety measures were lifted.
The state Secretary of Health, Umair Shah, said he expects supply to meet initial demand for the new vaccines. Supply will increase in the coming days and weeks, he said.
According to a news release from Gov. Jay Inslee’s office, the workgroup found that completion of either vaccine series produced antibody levels similar to those achieved in people aged 16-25 years. Reactions to the vaccines among infants aged 6-12 months and children aged 1 through 5 years were the same compared with other age groups.
“The Workgroup concluded that the benefits of completing either vaccine series substantially outweigh any known or likely risks,” the news release said. “Immunization can be expected to reduce the numbers of COVID-19-related serious illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in young children while facilitating their participation in normal educational, social and recreational activities.”
The state’s vaccine finder website was not yet updated Monday with information for kids under 5.
This story was originally published June 20, 2022 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Western states authorize COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 following FDA, CDC approval."
