Update on 12-15 Age Authorization for COVID-19 Vaccine Providers

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in adolescents ages 12-15 years on May 10.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meets today and will provide recommendations for vaccinating this population. More information about how those recommendations will be shared over the coming days is below.  

Providers can start vaccinating once they are familiar with the ACIP recommendations determined today, confident that they can train staff, and are well prepared to safely vaccinate this age group with Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Below is a timeline of the expected information:

Today

• ACIP meets today starting at 10 a.m. (CST). They will review data on the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines as well as clinical considerations for use of the Pfizer vaccine in adolescents. Meeting information and a live webcast link can be found at CDC: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
• CDC will provide a summary of the ACIP decision as well as information on any communication and clinical materials updates with partners tonight.

Thursday

• CDC will post a webpage with information on adolescent vaccination and a pediatrician toolkit at CDC: Vaccines for COVID-19.

Friday

• ACIP’s recommendations will be published in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) in the morning around 10 a.m.

Note: In addition to ensuring that current COVID-19 vaccination providers get updated materials when they are available, we will use our existing relationships with pediatric immunization providers to get CDC and MDH resources into the right hands. We will continue to evaluate the best way to share information with existing and new providers. Our materials at COVID-19 Vaccine Providers will be updated with recommendations for vaccinating children age 12 years and older as soon as possible.