RI Governor To Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy For Kids

PROVIDENCE, RI — With the federal government expected to greenlight COVID-19 vaccines for children in the coming weeks, Rhode Island is getting ready to hit the ground running. Thursday afternoon, Gov. Dan McKee and other top officials will unveil the state's strategy to get shot in kids' arms quickly and efficiently.

McKee will make the announcement at the Providence Children's Museum at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, will be there as well, along with Dr. Beth Lange, the president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The federal Food and Drug Administration could approve COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as 5 years old in the coming weeks. NBC cited a White House official who said the White House recently told governors to prepare vaccination efforts for children between 5-11 by early November.

The FDA has an Oct. 26 meeting to discuss Pfizer and BioNTech's request for emergency use authorization for vaccines specifically made for children ages 5-11. The dosage and dilution requirements are different from the vaccines in use for the rest of the population.

Tom McCarthy, the executive director of the state's vaccine program, said previously that the Department of Health was "watching closely" for full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Once approval comes, the vaccination effort for kids will be centered around schools, McCarthy said, since school clinics have been very successful so far.