An FDA advisory panel voted Tuesday to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11. If the FDA and CDC approves emergency use of the pediatric doses for Pfizer’s vaccine, providers are preparing for distribution as early as the next couple of weeks.

Pfizer has released data from its clinical trial about the vaccine, which is a third of the dose older children and adults already have had access to.

Meanwhile, a recent Ipsos poll showed that two-thirds of parents surveyed said they were likely to vaccinate their child after approval comes. For the rest, concerns about side effects and long-term unknowns were their primary reasons for hesitancy, according to the poll.

Joining us for today's BizTalk are area public health and medical officials to discuss the vaccine for younger children, plans for distribution and questions they’re fielding from families.

They’ll also update how case numbers are looking locally with the delta variant and an upcoming health board meeting about potentially lifting New Hanover County’s recent indoor face covering mandate.

The Panel:
DR. PAUL KAMITSUKA, NHRMC chief epidemiologist/Wilmington Health infectious disease physician
DAVID HOWARD, New Hanover County health director