State Approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine For Adolescents

The state of Missouri has approved administration of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15.

The order was signed May 12.

With the approval, more than 313,000 individuals are now eligible for the vaccine.

According to data provided by the state, 25.3% of Missourians aged 15 to 24 have initiated the vaccine and 18.1 have completed it.

The state’s COVID-19 dashboard has not included data for those younger than 15.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said that in clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was found to be 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 among participants aged 12-15.

DHSS said the side effects in adolescents were similar with those reported in clinical trials of those 16 and older.

It includes pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, chills, muscle and joint pain and fever.

DHSS said the Moderna and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available to those 18 and older.

Missouri briefly paused the Janssen vaccine in April after it was found to cause blood clotting in some individuals.

Those seeking vaccination should visit MOStopsCovid.com to find vaccination sites and events. State-supported events and vaccination sites can be found at this site. Individuals can also register in Missouri Vaccine Navigator and find appointment options in the following languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and French. Some local providers also accept walk-ins. 

In most situations, a parent or guardian must be present for an individual under the age of 18 to receive the vaccine. In some settings, written consent from a parent or guardian may also be permissible.