COVID-19 vaccinations of adolescents ages 12-15 are underway in Oregon
By Catcher Kemmerer ‘24
COVID-19 vaccinations of adolescents ages 12 to 15 began in Oregon and across the U.S. on Thursday morning. Currently, the vaccine developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech is the only one available for minors.
The eligibility expansion follows FDA and CDC approval after a rigorous examination of Pfizer’s Emergency Authorized Use (EUA) expansion application. It also follows further authorization from the so-called Western States Pact, formed in April 2020 by the governors of Oregon, Washington and California, which gave the states more autonomy from the federal government in their COVID-19 responses.
Pfizer found its vaccine to be 100% effective against COVID-19 in a U.S. Phase 3 trial of 2,260 adolescents, exceeding efficacy rates in young adults. Pfizer called the study “pivotal,” as the U.S. contends with high levels of vaccine hesitancy during its historic vaccination campaign.
The expansion allows younger high school students, as well as most middle school students, to be inoculated in advance of the 2021-22 academic year. If most students were vaccinated by August, it would aid school administrators looking to return to pre-pandemic forms of instruction.
“I am relieved and delighted that immunization against COVID-19 has expanded to include 12-15 year-olds,” said Catlin Gabel School (CGS) Head of Upper School Aline Garcia-Rubio. “If the vast majority of students and teachers are protected against infection or serious disease, we are much more likely to return to pre-pandemic practices in schools.”
Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky, the U.S. vaccinated 600,000 adolescents last week. There are roughly 17 million 12 to 15 year-olds in the U.S., accounting for approximately 5.3% of the population.
The immunization of younger adolescents came as the CDC relaxed its masking guidance, allowing those who are fully vaccinated to visit most indoor spaces mask-free. People are considered fully vaccinated approximately two weeks after their final inoculation.
“The new CDC mask requirements make perfect sense from the scientific standpoint,” added Garcia-Rubio. However, she expressed reservations that the changes could unintentionally bolster vaccine hesitancy. “I am somewhat concerned by the possible effects of removing masks in public spaces… Removing the requirement of masks might embolden those who are hesitant to wear them (and remain unvaccinated)… this has a negative public health effect, overall.”
Teens in the Portland metropolitan area can visit many of the currently running vaccination sites, which include grocery stores, pharmacies, the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Airport (PDX) and Hillsboro Stadium, among others. The Oregon Convention Center opened walk-in appointments May 7.