CDC advisory group votes to add COVID-19 shot to child vaccination schedule
by Abigail Adcox, Healthcare Reporter |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s vaccine advisory committee has recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine be added to the childhood immunization schedule, a list that many states use as a guideline when crafting vaccination requirements for schools and day care.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously Thursday to include the COVID-19 vaccine on the 2022 Child & Adolescent Immunization Schedule, which is seen as a recommendation for parents and health providers on when certain vaccines should be administered. The schedule does not dictate what vaccinations are required for school entry, as only states can decide that, but it is likely to prompt some to add the COVID vaccine to their list.
One of the committee members, Dr. Matthew Daley, argued that adding the vaccine to the schedule reflected a “summary of existing recommendations,” as the CDC has already recommended that all children 6 months and up should get COVID-19 shots, but he acknowledged concerns raised in public comments.
“I will acknowledge I appreciate that there is symbolism in adding COVID-19 to the childhood immunization schedule and that symbolism is that we view this as routine and that we view this as COVID is here to stay,” said Daley. “When I think about the routine immunization schedule as a practicing pediatrician, I think about it as an opportunity [for] my patients to prevent serious disease and death. That’s what I view that as and if something is added to the schedule, it’s because I feel like the benefits continue to strongly outweigh the risks.”
Currently, children as young as 6 months are eligible to receive Pfizer and Moderna’s primary two-dose series. Children 5 and up are also eligible for the updated booster that targets the omicron variant.
Demand for the vaccines for children appears to be low. Months after the shots were authorized for younger populations, uptake still remains low. Only 9% of children ages 6 months-4 years and 38% of children ages 5-11 years have received their first shot, according to the CDC.
Many of the vaccines on the childhood immunization list, including the Hepatitis B and Measles shot, already have full FDA approval for younger populations, unlike the COVID vaccine. Of the three COVID vaccines authorized for those under 18, the Pfizer vaccine has only been fully approved by the FDA for people 12 and older, while Moderna’s was fully approved for those aged 18 and older.
People under 12 are eligible to get Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines through an emergency use authorization granted by the FDA. In order to get full approval, more data is required from the vaccine manufacturer including inspections of manufacturing plants.
California is the only state that is in the process of implementing a statewide COVID vaccination requirement for students, which is not set to take effect until after July 1, 2023. With the inclusion of the COVID vaccine on the immunization schedule next year, more states could follow.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced ahead of the vote that, regardless of CDC guidance, his state will not allow any COVID vaccine mandates. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis previously signed legislation last year prohibiting schools from requiring the COVID vaccine for children or employees. Twenty other states already have similar bans on student COVID-19 vaccine mandates in place, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.
