Arlington Public Schools Getting Ready To Roll Out Vaccinations To Children

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington Public Schools is working with the county health department on rolling out vaccinations for students ages 5 to 11 once they are approved by federal regulators, the school division said Wednesday.

An expert committee advising the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday recommended that regulators authorize the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds.

The FDA is expected to follow the committee’s recommendation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would then need to sign off on giving the Pfizer vaccine to these younger children.

In a letter to the Arlington County school community on Wednesday, Superintendent Francisco Durán said he expects approval of the Pfizer vaccine for this age group “very soon.”

Once approved, APS will inform the community about the availability of doses and how to schedule appointments. Arlington County Public Health anticipates holding clinics and scheduling vaccinations by appointment by mid-November.

Currently, the CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a vaccination to help protect against COVID-19. Children 12 years and older are able to get the Pfizer vaccine in the United States.

In Arlington County, 71 percent of adults are fully vaccinated, while 62.9 percent of the county’s population is fully vaccinated, according to the most current data.

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