AJE is happy to share this news from WTOP with families!

Children’s National Medical Center in D.C. has established a waitlist for children ages 12 and up as the U.S. waits for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue an emergency use authorization for the vaccine in children.

The waitlist is for those who live in D.C. or Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been conducting clinical trials on the vaccine’s effects on children, and the company expects to receive the needed authorization in the next few weeks. It will also seek approval for use in children between 2 and 11 years old as early as September.

Currently, no vaccine has been granted full approval by the FDA for any age range, instead receiving emergency use authorizations.

In anticipation of the vaccine’s authorization, Children’s National has launched a page where parents can help their children sign up for the wait list to receive the Pfizer vaccine. The page stresses that the hospital is currently only vaccinating patients between 16 and 22 years old, but that eligibility criteria could soon change.

To get on the waitlist, children and their parents can visit Children’s National’s webpage for more details and information on signing up.

Additional information about vaccination in DC is available below and also here.  

Also, don’t forget that the District’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) cover all transportation (free of charge), to and from, all medically necessary covered services and appointments.  To request transportation, the Enrollee should call the following number to schedule the service:

AmeriHealth Caritas DC | Call 1-800-315-3485. Rides available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

CareFirst Community Health Plan DC | Call MTM1 at 1-855-824-5693. Rides available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Health Services for Children with Special Needs | Call SET Transportation at 1-866-991-5433

MedStar Family Choice DC | Call 1-866-201-9974