Louisiana orders 148K COVID vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11

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A long-awaited moment for some Louisiana families may soon arrive: The authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 is a step closer after an advisory committee to the Food & Drug Administration voted to recommend it for that age group on Tuesday.

"We could be offering vaccine to children within one to two weeks," Dr. Joe Kanter, Louisiana's state health officer, said at a Tuesday press conference. "That's very, very exciting."

Louisiana has ordered 148,000 initial doses for the 421,000 kids in that age group in the state, Kanter said.

Although there are several more steps before the vaccine is fully authorized, health providers in Louisiana are already fielding questions from parents and preparing to receive it.

“We know children are accustomed to receiving vaccines in the pediatrician’s office,” said Dr. Christina Cannizzaro, a pediatrician with Ochsner Health in New Orleans. “That’s where the families are comfortable. It’s easy and it’s accessible.”

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Before the vaccines are shipped to Louisiana, a few more groups have to sign off on it. The FDA will decide whether to follow the committee's recommendation in the coming days. The FDA is not bound to the committee’s decision, but it typically follows it and will likely issue an authorization.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee will then review the request on Nov. 2-3. If that committee votes to recommend the vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 and CDC Director Rochelle Wolensky follows suit, the vaccine could be available next week.

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