When can kids get the COVID vaccine?
Dr. Anthony Fauci said this month he is cautiously optimistic that children under 12 can get the COVID vaccine by Thanksgiving. We are now doing studies that are ongoing as were speaking, studies that are looking at what we call age de-escalation, children from 12 to 9 and then 9 to 6 and then 6 to 2 and then 6 months to 2 years, Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNNs New Day this month. We hope that as we approach the end of this calendar year, well have enough information to vaccinate children of any age, he added. So, Im cautiously optimistic we might be there by the end of the year.  The Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is currently available for use in children ages 12 years and older. The Moderna coronavirus vaccine, which is currently authorized for use in those 18 years and older, reported that its vaccine was highly effective in kids aged 12-to-17 and would be applying for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization this month. But younger kids are not currently eligible to get the COVID vaccine. However, The New York Times reported that Pfizer and Moderna are both in the process of testing their vaccines in children under the age of 12 and expect to have results for children ages 5 to 11 by September. Data from trials including children ages 6 months to 2 years of age is expected in October or November - with FDA vaccine approval expected shortly thereafter. The data from these drugmakers is consistent with the prediction Fauci is making that would have all children eligible for vaccination by Thanksgiving, if not by the end of this year. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com  Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us at nj.com/tips.