US White House to Begin COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Aged 5-11 Starting November 8

US 28 Million Children Aged 5-11 Eligible for Vaccination
Dosage Reduced to One-Third... "Concerns Over Side Effects"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The White House announced that COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 will begin on the 8th. As a result, all 28 million children aged 5 to 11 in the United States are expected to be eligible for vaccination. Despite concerns about various side effects, U.S. health authorities maintain that vaccination is essential for the resumption of in-person classes. With the vaccination of children in the U.S. gaining momentum, countries currently considering vaccinations for children, such as those in Europe and Canada, are also expected to begin vaccinations in earnest.

On the 1st (local time), Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, stated at a virtual briefing, "Vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 will begin on the 8th," adding, "The delivery of 15 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for vaccination has started." He emphasized, "There are 28 million children aged 5 to 11 in the U.S. eligible for vaccination," and "It is essential for the resumption of in-person classes."

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommended emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11. Once the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approves the emergency use authorization and vaccination recommendation on the 2nd, the approval process will be completed.

However, the Pfizer vaccine administered to children aged 5 to 11 will be only one-third of the existing dose, at 10 micrograms (㎍). This is due to concerns about myocarditis side effects, which rarely occur with mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid)-based vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna.

Previously, the FDA's VRBPAC stated that reducing the dose could mitigate rare side effects such as myocarditis. Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, is known to cause severe chest pain and, in serious cases, breathing difficulties. According to U.S. health authorities, myocarditis side effects have occurred at a rate of about 1 in 300,000 people in the United States so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.