Later in the day, the President will deliver remarks at the White House focused “on Covid-19 vaccines for children under 5, and the historic progress the country has made in fighting Covid-19 with safe, effective vaccines available to virtually all Americans,” the official added.
The events will come just days after US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on a recommendation of Covid-19 vaccinations for children under 5. On Saturday, a CDC advisory panel unanimously voted in support of recommending the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for children as young as 6 months.
“Today is a monumental step forward in our nation’s fight against the virus, with virtually every American now eligible for the protections that Covid-19 vaccines provide,” Biden said in a written statement Sunday. “For parents all over the country, this is a day of relief and celebration.”
Earlier this month, the White House outlined its plans for making Covid-19 vaccines available for the youngest Americans following the OK from federal regulators. The administration made available 10 million vaccines doses for pre-order by “states, Tribes, territories, community health centers, federal pharmacy partners, and others,” according to the White House.
The administration estimated 85% of children under the age of 5 live within five miles of a potential vaccination site while also noting many parents looking for vaccines for their young children would obtain them through pediatricians or primary care providers.
Roughly 17 million kids under the age of 5 are now eligible for vaccinations, offering relief to many parents hoping the shots will offer protection from the coronavirus for their children.
Nearly 40% of those surveyed said they would “wait and see” before vaccinating their young children, 11% said they would get the vaccine for their kids only if required, and 27% said they would “definitely not” get the Covid-19 vaccination for their child.
The White House has sought to assure parents of the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
“These vaccines are exceedingly safe, and that’s the biggest message, now these vaccines have been given to millions and millions of kids, very, very safe,” Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House Covid-19 Response coordinator, said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” on Monday. “What I would say to parents is, you know, talk to your family physician, talk to your pediatrician, talk to the people who take care of your kids and get their advice. And that’s probably the best way to move forward.”