American Academy of Pediatrics Statement on FDA Authorization of COVID-19 Vaccine

Statement by Lee Savio Beers, MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics

“The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraged that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 after reviewing scientific data validating its safety and effectiveness. This moves the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine a step closer to being available to protect children, pending a recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

“More than 6 million children have been infected with this virus since the beginning of the pandemic, and children have suffered in numerous other ways. This includes disruptions to their education, harms to their mental and emotional health, and greatly diminished access to critical medical services.

“Authorization of the vaccine for younger children is an important step in keeping them healthy and providing their families with peace of mind. The vaccine will make it safe for children to visit friends and family members, celebrate holiday gatherings, and to resume the normal childhood activities that they’ve missed during the pandemic.

“Pediatricians are standing by to talk with families about the vaccine and to administer the vaccine to children as soon as possible.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.