It’s Pfizer only for younger teens

By Terry Murry on Friday, April 16th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

OLYMPIA – Everyone 16 and older is now eligible for vaccinations against COVID-19. Only one of the vaccines, however, is approved for use in those aged 16 and 17.

“Currently Pfizer-BioNTech is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for people 16 years of age or older,” the Washington State Department of Health stated in a news release. “We are working to add vaccine type to our Vaccine Locator web page and mobile app.”

Until that can be accomplished, DOH is asking providers to make sure their clinic information includes the type of vaccine being administered. The department cautions that if the vaccine type is not listed, people should contact the provider of the vaccination site. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s clinics for anyone living in its ceded territories (which includes Walla Walla County) utilizes the Pfizer vaccine.

This week Washington anticipates receiving 210,600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, with another 212,940 doses set to arrive next week. The Pfizer vaccine needs the second dose delivered 21 days after the first dose, while the Moderna wait time is 28 days. The temporary pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine continues.