US Begins COVID-19 Vaccination For Children Under 5, President Biden: Finally, Peace Of Mind

Illustration of COVID-19 vaccination for children. (Source: UNICEF/Zhang Yuwei)

JAKARTA - The United States began administering a COVID-19 vaccine to children under the age of 5 Tuesday, after local health authorities gave approval last week.

The age group from six months to 5 years is the last to qualify for vaccination in the US, marking a new milestone more than two years after the disease first emerged.

"The first time in our fight against this pandemic, nearly every American can now have access to a life-saving vaccine," President Joe Biden said in remarks from the White House.

The first COVID-19 vaccine began to be administered in the country about 18 months ago, although approval for childhood immunization was heralded several times, much to the frustration of many parents.

"Finally, peace of mind," Biden said.

The White House earlier announced it had ordered millions of vaccines to be shipped "soon" after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Of the 10 million doses that were secured, half came from Pfizer and half from Moderna.

The FDA approved the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for age groups last week, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending children receive one of the two vaccines.

The Moderna vaccine regimen requires two doses, while the Pfizer series requires three. The CDC says there are nearly 20 million children in the US who qualify under the new authorization.

"We know millions of parents and caregivers desperately want their children vaccinated, and with today's decision, they can," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.

"I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to speak with their local doctor, nurse or pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccination and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated."

However, it is not known what the absorption will be nationally, as polls suggest parents may be reluctant to vaccinate their young children.

It is known that at least one in five parents of children under 5 years old said they would vaccinate them soon, according to the results of a Kaiser Family Foundation poll in May. While 38 per cent said they would 'wait and see' and 27 per cent said they "definitely" would not vaccinate.

A recent CDC study estimated that at least 75 percent of US children have been infected with the coronavirus, although the agency still recommends vaccination.