New York City will be ready within 24 hours of federal approval to begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11, officials said Thursday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s approval of the vaccine for grade schoolers is expected late next week after an Food and Drug Administration panel provided its recommendation earlier this week.
At his daily news briefing Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said within 24 hours of final approval the children’s vaccinations — one-third the dose given to adults — would be available at city sites while within 48 hours it would be at pediatrician offices, pharmacies and other places.
“This is a moment that parents have been waiting for; to know that their kids are safe,” de Blasio said, adding that the city has administered 12 million total doses of the vaccine. “New York City will be ready.”
Health Commissioner David Chokshi said the city had purchased 231,000 doses of the pediatric vaccine, which will arrive next week, and the city would launch a public information campaign in the coming days to address parent’s questions.
“The latest news about the COVID vaccine for young children should give us all hope,” Chokshi said. “The vaccine will protect children, will reduce the spread of COVID and keep our community safe.”
Check back for more on this developing story.
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