Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
The nation’s capacity to vaccinate children has become fully realized this week, and White House staffers say that they’re encouraged by the early results.
According to White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients, who spoke to reporters via video conference on Wednesday, about 900,000 children have already received a dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine since Nov. 2, when the vaccine was cleared for use in children ages 5 to 11.
Zients added that this week marked the first time that the nation’s child vaccination program was “fully up and running” and said that about 700,000 more children had pharmacy appointments for this week.
“Parents and families across the country are breathing giant sighs of relief,” Zients said. “And we are just getting started. We will continue to work with governors, local leaders, healthcare providers and others to build on this progress.”
Zients also took the opportunity to defend vaccine mandates and urge adults to get COVID booster shots.
“Vaccination requirements get more people vaccinated, strengthen our economy, and help continue us on our path out of the pandemic,” Zients said.
The availability of a children’s vaccine has not proven controversial, but Republicans in both the House and Senate rejected vaccine requirements for people of any age.
Thursday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced legislation to ban mandates for children.
It should be a parent’s choice whether or not to give their child the COVID vaccine – not a government mandate! pic.twitter.com/bauraN3RL7
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) November 10, 2021
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tweeted a similar sentiment:
Vaccine mandates are wrong. Vaccine mandates for children are worse.”
The Biden administration has faced numerous court battles over its use of vaccine requirements, and last week a federal court blocked President Joe Biden’s mandate for private businesses.
At the time, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) tweeted in part, “Our fight against the unconstitutional Biden vaccine mandate continues… in Congress and in the courts.”
This is a win for freedom.
Our fight against the unconstitutional Biden vaccine mandate continues… in Congress and in the courts.
I’m grateful to my friend @AGJeffLandry for leading this legal challenge on behalf of Louisiana workers. https://t.co/zyajqYIDtI— Rep. Clay Higgins (@RepClayHiggins) November 6, 2021
The White House, however, has urged businesses to proceed with mandates despite the issuance of the court order.
On Nov. 2, President Joe Biden announced that the nation had enough vaccines to accommodate every child in America.
According to the FDA, the Pfizer children’s vaccine is given in two doses, three weeks apart. The dosage is one-third that of the vaccine administered to teens and adults.