Vaccinating children ages 5-11 in New York is expected as early as next month

New York – Final approval for the vaccine for children age 5 to 11-years-old is expected as early as next month. Gov. Kathy Hochul is telling pediatricians to prepare to vaccinate children.

According to Gov. Hochul Wednesday’s briefing, she’ll be holding a Zoom call with pediatricians to discuss the smoothest way to roll this vaccine out to kids.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of work now that we have the confirmation that this is inevitable,” said Hochul. “It’s going to happen. It’s just a question on timing. But we will be more than prepared in the state of New York to deal with that.”

Pfizer submitted its request to the FDA for emergency use authorization for the vaccine in kids ages 5-11, last week.

By early November, final approval and vaccine rollout at the doctors, schools, and pharmacies could begin.

Hochul has asked the White House to make sure places where kids can get the vaccine get smaller batches of doses at a time so doctor’s offices aren’t overwhelmed.

She also defended her decision to mandate state healthcare workers get a COVID-19 vaccine. Hochul says the mandate is already working.

According to Hochul over 90% of active employees at nursing homes and hospitals are vaccinated.