FDA Advisory Panel Endorses Coronavirus Vax For Kids 5 To 11

LONG ISLAND, NY — The Food and Drug Administration's vaccine advisory committee recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children 5 to 11 on Tuesday.

According to NBC News, the committee voted to recommend a smaller dosage for emergency use authorization.

The vote was 17 in favor, with one abstention, NPR reported; Pfizer's data indicated the vaccine was safe and 90.7 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in that age group; the children's dose has one-third the active ingredient of the adult dosage and children would receive a second shot 21 days or more after receiving the first, the post said.

The FDA is expected to make a decision in the next few days, and if green-lighted, the move would mean that virtually everyone in the United States except for those aged 4 and under would be eligible for vaccinations.

The news came on Tuesday as Gov. Kathy Hochul said New York's positivity rate stood at 2.37 percent over the past 24 hours, with a seven-day average of 2.09 percent. A total of 2,044 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, with 454 in ICU and 256 intubated. There were 34 new deaths over the past 24 hours, she said.

Long Island's positivity rate stood at 2.16 percent.

The spotlight on vaccinations continues, with 61,303 vaccine doses administered over the last 24 hours; 86.8 percent of New Yorkers 18 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 78.2 percent of New Yorkers 18 and older have completed the vaccine series, Hochul said.

"New Yorkers have made tremendous progress in the fight against COVID, but make no mistake - our work is not done," Hochul said. "We all remember the spike in infections last winter and it's now on all of us to ensure it doesn't happen again. As we move toward colder months and more opportunities for people to gather indoors, the vaccine has become even more important. There's no reason to wait — it's free, it's available and it's the right thing to do, so get your shot today."

Last week, Hochul said a vaccination against COVID-19 for kids 5 to 11 could be coming as soon as early-to-mid November, urging parents to call their pediatricians to set up appointments before the "crush of interest" ensues.

With the holiday season approaching, beginning with Halloween, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance last week on how to stay safe with the delta variant still a concern.

"Hopefully, this will be the last Halloween when parents should have to worry about trick-or-treating or head to the mall and wonder if Santa has been vaccinated," she said. "We know the answer is within our reach."

Earlier in October, Pfizer-BioNTech asked the U.S. Food And Drug Administration to green light the use of its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine in children between the ages of 5 to 11.

Hochul said that could happen as soon as early-to-mid November, meaning 1.5 million children in that elementary school age group would be eligible.

"I expect there could be a crush of interest in this," she said. "I want to be sure doctors' officers are ready."

Hochul said her plans included speaking to the New York State chapter to the American Academy of Pediatrics and set up engagement webinars with pediatricians. Schools, she said, are also the answer; the state is focusing on connecting schools to provider partners and community organizations, providing outreach and educational materials, and planning for ways to vaccinate kids, including in schools.

"We want to make this as easy as possible," Hochul said.

To parents, she said, "Make your pediatrician appointments now — you don't want the first available appointment to be in February."

Hochul said mass vaccinations sites will be opened but as a mother, she understood that most parents would feel more comfortable with their own pediatrician.

Discussing Colin Powell's death, who died from COVID-19 related causes while battling cancer although fully vaccinated, Hochul said "his story cannot be hijacked by anti-vaxxers. He had unique circumstances. I don't want anyone to say this is the reason not to be vaccinated. He got sick because someone who was not vaccinated gave him the virus. If we had more people vaccinated, people in vulnerable situations would not have contracted COVID. Your action or inaction can have dire consequences."

Last week, the FDA okayed Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots as well as mix-and-match vaccinations.