Now that the Pfizer vaccine is approved for adolescents, what do we know about vaccine availability for this age group?
Now that the Pfizer vaccine is approved for adolescents, what do we know about vaccine availability for this age group?
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SciLine reaches out to our network of scientific experts and poses commonly asked questions about newsworthy topics. Reporters can use these responses in news stories, with attribution to the expert.
SciLine reaches out to our network of scientific experts and poses commonly asked questions about newsworthy topics. Reporters can use these responses in news stories, with attribution to the expert.
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Expert Comments:
C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH
In many areas across the US, we do not see a shortage of vaccine availability. In fact, in areas such as the southeastern US, we are doing all we can to use the vaccine doses already allocated. At this point in the pandemic, we have vaccinated the majority of those that are at the highest risk of COVID-19 complications; now is the time to ensure vaccination of those that may contribute to ongoing community spread of disease.
Richard Malley, MD
This should be happening quite rapidly in the US, where supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine have been high and, sadly, demand has been dropping. This is not the case in Canada, which has also authorized the vaccine in adolescents, but where supplies are more limited.
Robert A. Bednarczyk, PhD
There seems to be an adequate supply of vaccine currently. Unfortunately, this is partially due to recent slowdowns in adults in getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Hopefully as more people are recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccines, this will spur greater vaccine demand across all ages for which the vaccine is approved.
Paul Spearman, MD
My understanding is that overall vaccine availability in the US is excellent. However, distribution to centers and to doctors’ offices that will administer the vaccine to this younger age group is still underway by the [Biden] administration.
