Although a COVID-19 vaccine for children under the age of 12 is still under consideration by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the White House announced an operational planning strategy Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, that outlines how the vaccine will be made free and accessible to families with children aged 5-11.

Over the next couple of weeks, advisory committees for the FDA and CDC are expected to make a final recommendation on the emergency authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5-11 years old. According to the White House, once a vaccine is authorized, the steps taken in this planning phase will allow for a smoother and more expedient rollout. The plan includes the following:

• Smaller packaging configurations that allow smaller, community-based providers to store and provide the vaccine.
• Using familiar sites, such as schools and pediatricians’ offices, as vaccination sites. Additionally, efforts will be made to match school districts with vaccine providers who will provide on-site vaccinations.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide full funding to states to support vaccination operations and outreach.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will work with schools and other entities to conduct a national education campaign to build public trust in the vaccine.

Find more information on vaccinations for children and teens from the CDC here, and stay tuned to Teach the Vote for updates.