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Marsh: Pfizer vaccines could be available for young children sometime next week

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — State Coronavirus Czar Dr. Clay Marsh says COVID-19 vaccines could be available for children in West Virginia between the ages of 5-11 in a matter of days.

Dr. Clay Marsh

“If things go according to projected outcomes then maybe as soon as next week,” Marsh said Monday during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”

Pfizer tested the vaccine on 4,500 children, Marsh said.

“The data showed a 90 percent reduction in symptomatic infection and very few side effects,” Marsh said.

Pfizer forwarded the information to the FDA late last week. The agency called the information “compelling.”

The FDA Biologics Committee meets and debates the merits of the data. Marsh said the committee will likely recommend Pfizer be approved to the CDC. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices is scheduled to meet early next week. Marsh said final approval could come then.

Marsh said the dose that children will be given is about a third of the dose that residents 12 and older receive.

“It still seems to have the same immune benefit and has very few side effects,” Marsh said.

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Marsh said young children are continuing to contract COVID.

“About 25 percent or so of the infections today are in children and so immunizations these children protects them from the rare severe effects of COVID-19. It protects them against inflammatory disorder we’ve seen in some children, and the effects of long COVID,” Marsh said.

Dr. Sherri Young

Kanawha-Charleston Health Department acting Director Dr. Sherri Young said Monday that Kanawha County is preparing to make the vaccines available to younger children.

“We’re going to be working with Kanawha County Schools and our community partners to get shots in arms as soon as we can,” Young said. “We know going away for the holidays is a big deal. We want them to be safe doing this but we also want them to be safe and stay in school.”





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