New York Could Approve Vaccines for Kids 12 to 15-Years Old, by Thursday

 Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that 12 to 15-year-olds in the state might be able to get their shots starting on Thursday, if Howard A. Zucker, MD, the state’s health commissioner, and the state’s clinical advisory task force recommend doing so. 

   Dr. Zucker and New York’s Clinical Advisory Task Force will wait to meet, however, until after tomorrow, when the vaccine advisory committee of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determines whether to approve for younger adolescents, the use of the Pfizer shot: the only vaccine so far that has been EUA-approved for use among teens 16 and up by the US Food and Drug Administration, which provided its stamp of approval yesterday.

   If the CDC approves the Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds tomorrow, which the agency is expected to do, younger adolescents could be getting their shots as early as later this week, which would mean that middle school students could potentially be vaccinated this summer, and well before the fall, when school starts again.

    Although Mayor Bill de Blasio talks every day about increasing the rates of vaccination among adults, by making getting vaccinated more convenient, fun, and even by offering incentives for people who get their shots, today, the mayor said that he would not require students and teachers to be vaccinated before public schools return to completely in-person instruction, in the fall. 

      Even before the city has been able to vaccinate its kids, the mayor said, “We are seeing extraordinary success right now in our schools,” said the mayor, who expected “a lot” of teachers and students to get vaccinated.

   “But, the schools have been incredibly safe because of all the health and safety measures: that gold standard of health and safety measures we put together. We look forward to welcoming back every single student,” the mayor said. “There will be a lot of health and safety measures in place.”

 (Photo by: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)