Covid vaccine shots for kids under 5 could be available as soon as June 21

Covid vaccinations for the youngest children could begin as early as June 21 if the shots are cleared by federal regulators, White House Covid coordinator Ashish Jha said Thursday.

“We expect that vaccinations will begin in earnest as early as Tuesday June 21 and really roll out throughout that week,” Jha told reporters at a White House briefing on the status of vaccination efforts.

Food and Drug Administration advisers are scheduled to discuss vaccinations for kids 6 months to 4 years old during a June 14-15 meeting, and the White House expects the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make their recommendations soon after, Jha said. Vaccines would start arriving at health care facilities the following weekend if they are approved, he added.