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White House says COVID vaccination for kids younger than 5 could start in a few weeks

Published June 2, 2022 at 5:39 PM EDT

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 02: White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha speaks at the daily press briefing at the White House on June 02, 2022 in Washington, DC. Jha spoke on COVID-19 vaccinations for children and highlighted Pfizer's recent request for FDA authorization for its vaccine for use in children five and under. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The White House laid out the federal government's plans to make the first COVID-19 vaccines available for very young children.

COVID-19 vaccinations for kids younger than 5 could start right after the Juneteenth holiday.

In a White House briefing on Thursday, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's COVID-19 response coordinator, said if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes vaccines for the youngest kids soon after a June 15 advisory meeting, shipments of the first 10 million doses could start arriving at doctors' offices as soon as the following weekend.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would also have to weigh in. Ultimately, the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, would have to give the go-ahead before vaccination could start.

"We expect that vaccination will begin in earnest as early as June 21 and really roll on throughout that week," Jha said.

Jha said that every parent who wants to vaccinate their baby (6 months and older), toddler or other child younger than 5 could likely do so within weeks after the shots become available.

This timeline is consistent with past FDA and CDC decision-making on COVID-19 vaccines.