Pfizer Asks FDA To Allow COVID Shots For Children Ages 5 To 11
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – With the FDA considering a Pfizer request to allow vaccination for kids 5 to 11, health experts are seeing that as some very positive news.
"That's going to have tremendous implications," said FIU Infectious Disease expert Dr. Aileen Marty.
"If we can get those younger individuals vaccinated, and the rest of us, we're going to have those levels of vaccine coverage that will really help us get back to more normal types of behavior," she said.
She finds that the dose kids would get would be very effective.
"Keep in mind this is 1/3 the dose the version of the Pfizer vaccine given for 12 and above and the studies show clearly these children are getting incredibly high-quality anti-bodies at a level equal or above those older individuals get," Dr. Marty said.
For the Greenberg family in Pinecrest, this is welcomed news. "I'm very excited to get my shot!"
At just 9 years old, Dafna Greenberg and her 11-year-old sister Adi are paying very close attention to what's going on with vaccinations.
They know Pfizer is asking the FDA to approve shots for kids 5-11. Dafna knows if she's vaccinated, she'll have more freedom. "I can do softball, I can go on trips. I can do after-school activities," she said.
Adi, 11, is counting the days s until she can get her shot in the arm.
"I'm 11, so I'm going to be 12 on November 5. I already have my vaccine appointment for my birthday and I'm excited about that," she said.
She sees a lot of changes ahead. "I'm so happy because I've been waiting so long to be able to o go inside my friend's houses and hang out with big groups of people," Adi said.
Maya Greenberg is their mom. "We don't go to restaurants, we don't go to the movie theater. We don't take trips. We pretty much just stay home," Maya said.
She tells us she, her husband and their 14-year-old son are all fully vaccinated.
They're hoping the vaccine is approved for younger kids and when it is — they have plans to everyone vaccinated as soon as possible.
"The plan is as soon as the vaccine is approved for 5-11 years old we're going to vaccinate them because we want to give them as much protection as possible from the covid," she said.
This is all followed by encouraging news that South Florida and the US could be turning a corner on COVID.
"It's not done with, we still have to take the actions that are necessary to go in the right direction, but we are definitely, finally heading in the right direction.
South Florida is seeing great vaccination numbers. In Broward, 81% of eligible residents have at least one shot. In Miami-Dade, that's at 91% according to figures released by the state on Friday. The positivity rate is 5 and a half percent in Broward and 3.7 in Miami-Dade.
Many after getting very anxious for the day they can ditch the mask and return to pre-pandemic life. "At least we can get back to work and get kids learning, get school going again, back to normal," said Chris Bend.
All this, though, comes with a warning. "Don't jump the gun," warns Dr. Marty.
"Remember we jumped the gun back in March. We took our masks off a little too soon, started gathering in indoor spaces a little too soon and the consequence of that was very very severe," she said.