
Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for children aged 12 to 15 on Monday. This lowers the current youngest age from 16 to 12. Alaskan children will likely be able to get theirs as soon as Wednesday.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is also reviewing the data and is expected to announce their decision Wednesday afternoon, said Alaska's chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, in a media availability on Monday. "And the CDC will weigh in on whether they agree with the ACIP recommendation," she said.
After this, children in Alaska 12 and over will be cleared to get a Pfizer vaccine.
In anticipation of this announcement, the City and Borough of Juneau and local health professionals are offering vaccination clinics for 12- to 18-year-olds this week and next.
Friday, May 14, there will be clinics at Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé.
Monday, May 17, there will be clinics at Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School and Floyd Dryden Middle School.
Families can sign up online with the links above or through 586-6000, but must register by this Wednesday
Any child 12-18 can sign up; they do not need to be a current Juneau School District student. Parents or caregivers must be present or sign a permission form and pre-screening form before the clinic.
Contact Kristen Bartlett at 523-1707 or for more information, or go to juneauschools.org.