COVID-19 vaccination requirement for schoolchildren won’t be considered before full FDA approval

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The board that oversees vaccine policies in Washington says it won’t consider a requirement for COVID-19 vaccines in schoolchildren until a vaccine is fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

On Monday, the agency signed off on emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine in 12- to 15-year-olds.

The Seattle Times reports that more than 370,000 teens and adolescents are in this age group.

The Washington State Board of Health say they won’t consider adding it to the list of required immunizations until it gets formal approval.

If the vaccine meets the state’s criteria, the board would then consider adding it to the state’s list.