What Happens Next as F.D.A., C.D.C. Weigh Covid Shots for Children

Politics|Here’s what happens adjacent if an F.D.A. sheet recommends pediatric Covid shots.

• Oct. 26, 2021, 8:40 a.m. ET

An autarkic committee of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration is gathering connected Tuesday for treatment whether to urge authorizing the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old, which could unfastened the mode to inoculating 28 cardinal children successful the United States.

An valuation of information released by regulators connected Friday from a objective proceedings showed that Pfizer’s vaccine was precise effectual astatine preventing symptomatic Covid-19 successful children successful that property range, and that the vaccine’s benefits outweighed the hazard of rare broadside effects. Experts volition astir surely rise concerns astir those broadside effects successful the meeting.

More needs to happen astatine the F.D.A. and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier children 5 to 11 volition beryllium capable to person the vaccine. But if some national agencies regularisation successful favor, the children could go eligible for shots successful the archetypal week of November.

Here’s what comes next.

At the F.D.A.

• The sheet of experts advises the F.D.A., portion of the national Department of Health and Human Services, whether to authorize the vaccine for children 5 to 11.

• The F.D.A. considers the advisory panel’s recommendation. The panel’s votes are not binding, but the F.D.A. typically follows them.

• Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner of the F.D.A., issues the agency’s last decision, usually wrong a fewer days of the advisory committee’s meeting.

At the C.D.C.

• An advisory sheet to the C.D.C., the United States’ nationalist wellness agency, reviews the F.D.A.’s determination and makes recommendations. That sheet is scheduled to meet to see the contented adjacent week.

• The C.D.C. considers its panel’s recommendations, which are not binding, though the bureau usually follows them. There was a uncommon objection successful September, erstwhile Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the manager of the C.D.C., endorsed Pfizer-BioNTech booster shots for frontline workers adjacent though the C.D.C.’s sheet had not recommended the step. That determination by Dr. Walensky aligned the C.D.C.’s guidance with the F.D.A.’s authorization.

• Dr. Walensky issues the agency’s guidance, which is powerfully influential for states, the wide nationalist and wellness attraction institutions and professionals.

In the states

• State wellness departments mostly travel the recommendations of the C.D.C.

• Federal officials person said that if pediatric doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are authorized, 15 cardinal doses of vaccine volition instantly beryllium shipped to the states for distribution.