If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, then the federal Covid-19 vaccination distribution program for children aged 5-11 will be “fully operational” next week. Pfizer BioNTech’sWhite House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients stated Monday that the doses are appropriate for those age groups.

Zients announced at a White House Covid briefing, that 15 million Pfizer vaccines have been transferred to the Biden Administration. This will facilitate younger children’s immunizations at pharmacies and hospitals as well as at their pediatricians. Zients indicated that vaccines for 5- to 11-year olds may begin as soon as this week. After Tuesday’s meeting by Pfizer’s advisory group, which will discuss vaccine data for young children, the CDC must authorize shots.   

Zients stated that the children vaccination program would be up and running by the beginning of the week on Nov. 8. Parents will have the ability to make appointments at sites that they trust and can schedule to get their children vaccinated.

Zients stated that the U.S. had enough Pfizer doses in stock to provide vaccines for all 28 million American children aged 5-11 against the disease. Zients stated that over 20,000 healthcare providers are working together to provide the vaccines. Zients also said that 15 million doses will be available at the beginning of the program, with more being added each week.

Pfizer’s Covid vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for 5- to 11-year olds on FridayReporting that the coronavirus had claimed the lives of 146 children aged between 10 and 17 years old as of October 17. Pfizer scientists told FDA’s advisory panel that the FDA approved their product for blocking symptoms of Covid in children under age 10.

CDC representatives stated that children with obesity and other comorbidities could be at risk of developing Covid complications. They were speaking before an FDA advisory panel. Covid outbreaks have led to over 2,000 school closures – impacting more than 1 million children and 68,000 teachers – nationwide since August, they said.

According to FDA data, approximately 9% are children aged 5-11 years old.