What to do now if you want your kids vaccinated ASAP for holiday travel
There is big news today from the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA), as it has approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for use in children ages 5 to 11.
This clears the way for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue the final approval when it meets next week on Nov. 2. With that last sign-off, children in that age bracket can receive COVID-19 vaccines.
Here's what you need to know if you're hoping to get your school-aged children vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible, especially in anticipation of upcoming holiday travel.
What happens next
The CDC is set to meet on Nov. 2 and vote on its recommendation related to the use of the Pfizer vaccine in children between the ages of 5 and 11.
If approved — as is expected — CDC director Rochelle Walensky can then endorse that recommendation and vaccines could become available to children as early as the following day.
How to get your child a vaccination appointment
If you want to be first in line to get your children vaccinated (if and when the vaccine becomes available next week as expected), you may want to try and make an appointment now.
Not all providers have opened their calendars at this point — but some have.
While this is a smaller age group getting approved, it is possible that pediatrician appointments during those first few days will be limited.
As an example, in Texas, the Texas Children's Hospital network is already accepting appointments for children ages 5 to 11 to receive their first dose beginning on Nov. 6, pending official approval and receipt of supplies.
You can also try checking with the same vaccine clinics — including pop-ups, hospitals and retail pharmacies — that have been vaccinating adults.
Timeline for holiday travel
From a travel perspective, every day counts if you're hoping to have your children fully vaccinated in time for the holidays.
Full vaccination status for children in this age group is likely to be the same as those ages 12 and older.
Pfizer is a two-dose vaccine given at least three weeks apart. Full vaccination is typically considered to be achieved two weeks after the second vaccine has been received.
With that schedule in mind, if a child receives his or her first vaccine on Nov. 3, they could theoretically receive their second on Nov. 24 (the day before Thanksgiving). In this case, they would likely be considered fully vaccinated two weeks later, on Dec. 8.
Every day you wait to start the process pushes full vaccination status back by another day. To be fully vaccinated (under that five-week timeline) by Dec. 23, as an example, a child would need to receive their first dose no later than Nov. 18.
This timeline suggests that children in the 5 to 11 age group will have the ability to be partially vaccinated by Thanksgiving and fully vaccinated by Christmas.
The FDA previously expanded emergency use authorization for the vaccine for adolescents ages 12 to 15 on May 10, saying “the known and potential benefits of this vaccine in individuals 12 years of age and older outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting the vaccine’s use in this population.”
Since then, the Pfizer vaccine has been widely available in the U.S. for anyone over the age of 12.
Dr. Jenny Yu, senior manager of medical integrity for Healthline Media (owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures) cautions against families traveling with members who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“I would not think one shot would be enough for travel in December as we are still anticipating another uptick in numbers in the winter as globally vaccination rates are low and we still have high infection rates in this country,” Yu told TPG earlier this fall.
For children under 5, Pfizer has said it expects to issue clinical trial results for children in the 6 months to 2 years age group and the 2 to 5 years age group “as soon as later this year,” meaning the vaccine could be authorized for use for every age group by early 2022.
Related: US will allow vaccinated British, EU travelers from November
Bottom line
This is an exciting moment for families who have been counting down to the day their 5- to 11-year-olds will be fully vaccinated.
While full approval is not yet available, if you want to have your child at the front of the line for an appointment, it's time to start checking in with the providers in your area to find out how they'll be handling vaccine appointments. In some cases, the appointments may already be available for scheduling.
Additional reporting by Summer Hull
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.