On Tuesday, kid-sized doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine cleared two final hurdles — a recommendation from CDC advisers, followed by a green light from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
28 million U.S. children between the ages of 5 and 11 fall into this newly authorized group, making COVID-19 vaccinations widely available to the majority of Americans.
“As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated,” Walensky said Tuesday night.
President Joe Biden called the decision “a turning point.”
“It will allow parents to end months of anxious worrying about their kids, and reduce the extent to which children spread the virus to others,” he said in a statement. “It is a major step forward for our nation in our fight to defeat the virus.”
Parents can make a vaccine appointment for their children at:
U.S. adults are still able to choose between Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work
Viral Vector COVID-19 Vaccines (Johnson & Johnson)
Find a booster shot
The CDC says anyone over the age of 65, between the age of 50–64 with underlying medical conditions, or 18 years and older who live in long-term care settings should get a booster shot.
Anyone 18 and older should receive a booster shot at least 2 months after receiving the J&J vaccine.
Ingredients that are NOT used in COVID-19 vaccines
The above table lists ALL ingredients in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (COMIRNATY). There are NO ingredients in this vaccine beyond what is listed in the table. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (COMIRNATY) has:
- No preservatives like thimerosal or mercury or any other preservatives.
- No antibiotics like sulfonamide or any other antibiotics.
- No medicines or therapeutics like ivermectin or any other medications.
- No tissues like aborted fetal cells, gelatin, or any materials from any animal.
- No food proteins like eggs or egg products, gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, nut products, or any nut byproducts (COVID-19 vaccines are not manufactured in facilities that produce food products).
- No metals like iron, nickel, cobalt, titanium, rare earth alloys, or any manufactured products like microelectronics, electrodes, carbon nanotubes or other nanostructures, or nanowire semiconductors.
- No latex. The vial stoppers used to hold the vaccine also do not contain latex.