MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Children as young as 12 years old are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. The Emergency Use Authorization was approved by the FDA today.
Millions of students could return to school this fall fully vaccinated, but the demand is still low for us here in Alabama.
Our WZDX News reporter has details from the Alabama Department of Public Health on what's next.
"We certainly know that children in this age group can be efficient spreaders of COVID, and so we really want to do all we can to reduce disease in this population," says ADPH Assistant State Health Officer and Pediatrician, Dr. Karen Landers.
Landers believes this slows the spread among kids in this group and also those they are around. She also reminds parents to make sure their child is eligible.
"Now, certainly we do need to have an appropriate age of the child. Make sure that child is age eligible because we don't to be vaccinating persons that we don't have an Emergency Use Authorization for," says Landers.
According to Landers, the department is ready to vaccinate children, but Alabama still remains stagnant. So far, only 26% of eligible Alabamians are fully vaccinated.
"As a pediatrician I am concerned - that parents go ahead avail themselves of information related to this safe and effective vaccine," says Landers.
She says doctors are currently educating families. "I know that many of our pediatricians and our family physicians are already speaking to persons of this age group," she says.
The Pfizer vaccine has proven to be 100% effective for children ages 12 -15. Doctor Landers also reminds parents on the benefit of having their child vaccinated. "Persons who are fully vaccinated, do not have to home quarantine if they are asymptomatic and have been vaccinated. So, I think we have to remember that that can help in terms of home quarantine for potential exposures."