Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine cleared its final hurdle on Tuesday after getting the approval from United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr Rochelle Walensky, giving way for the children aged between 5-11 to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The move is likely to expand the country’s inoculation drive multifold and include nearly 28 million children in the eligibility criteria, which previously included those who were above the age of 12.

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The sign-off from Dr Walensky came just hours after an advisory panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unanimously backed the COVID-19 vaccine for kids on Tuesday.

The status of other COVID-19 vaccines in the United States — Johnson & Johnson and Moderna — remains unclear. 

In a statement released on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, the health agency clarified that the effectiveness of the vaccine in children aged between 5 and 12 was recorded at 91%, similar to the results of previously conducted adult trials.

The statement read, “Similar to what was seen in adult vaccine trials, vaccination was nearly 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 among children aged 5-11 years.”

The statement also addressed the side effects of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in kids and described them as “mild, self-limiting, and similar to those seen in adults”. It further added that the most commonly noted side effect was a sore arm.

“Distribution of pediatric vaccinations across the country started this week, with plans to scale up to full capacity starting the week of November 8th. Vaccines will be available at thousands of pediatric healthcare provider offices, pharmacies”, the health agency noted.

In a statement day before the decision was announced, the White House said that the Biden administration had already prepared for the approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.