More than 360,000 children under age 12 have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., according to CDC data released Nov. 8.
The shots became available to children under 12 Nov. 2 with an endorsement from CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD.
The White House said there are enough vaccines for every child as young as 5 to be vaccinated, and that it plans to ramp up distribution to pediatricians' offices, pharmacies and school clinics this week, according to The Washington Post.
President Joe Biden said in a statement earlier this month: "Please get them vaccinated. Because here's the deal: Children make up one quarter of the cases in this country. And while rare, children can get very sick from COVID-19. And some can end up — few — but end up hospitalized. But they don't have to."
Experts don't expect most schools to mandate COVID-19 shots for children while they're available under emergency use authorization, but schools may if the shots gain full regulatory approval, the Post reported.