Holly Ainsworth, a nursing intern at the University of Texas, prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to Stephanie Vasquez, a PACU Nurse at UT HS-ASC, on Dec. 15, 2020. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Texans as young as 12 years old can soon start getting the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 immunization, state officials announced Thursday.
The Texas Department of State Health Services advised providers that the vaccine can be administered to adolescents age 12 to 15 years old, in line with federal guidance.
Texas announces Pfizer vaccine now available to adolescents as young as 12 years old
Texas Tribune
Updated:
Tags:
Holly Ainsworth, a nursing intern at the University of Texas, prepares to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to Stephanie Vasquez, a PACU Nurse at UT HS-ASC, on Dec. 15, 2020.
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Texans as young as 12 years old can soon start getting the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 immunization, state officials announced Thursday.
The Texas Department of State Health Services advised providers that the vaccine can be administered to adolescents age 12 to 15 years old, in line with federal guidance.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has notified vaccine providers that they should begin to administer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to adolescents from 12 to 15 years old, in line with federal guidance.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on children 12-15 years old. It’s the same vaccine given to adults and older teens. Now, Texas health officials are awaiting recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how best to administer the vaccine to that age group.
Dr. Jennifer Shuford is Texas’ chief epidemiologist and a member of Texas’ COVID-19 Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. She answered some common questions parents might have before taking their young teen to get vaccinated.
What if your health care provider isn’t offering the Pfizer vaccine?
Thursday, May 13, 2021
The Texas Department of State Health Services announced that adolescent Texans between the ages of 12-15 are now eligible to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Texas’ move follows federal guidance, allowing the newest age group to receive a vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for adolescents on Monday and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended it for 12-15 year olds on Tuesday.
“While children are less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, they can be infected with the virus and spread infection in their homes and communities,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infections disease services, and chair of the state’s Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. “DSHS believes that promptly vaccinating the adolescents in this age group is another valuable tool that will help end the COVID-19 pandemic and have a direct and positive effect on schools be