Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday that the state is ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccines for 5-to 11-year-olds, pending a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The committee met Tuesday to consider the emergency use authorization the Food and Drug Administration granted last week for Pfizer's messenger RNA vaccine to be given to 5- to 11-year-olds. Clinical trials showed a 10-microgram dose, one-third of the dose given to adults and older children, was more than 90% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19.
Dr. Jose Romero, the state's secretary of health, said the state will initially receive 110,000 of the smaller doses. He said the state has more than 270,000 people in the 5- to 11-year-old group.
The Arkansas Department of Health's more than 70 local health units will be the first recipients, followed by providers participating in the CDC's Vaccines for Children program. The federally funded initiative provides vaccines for children at no cost. The phased rollout will eventually reach pharmacies and clinics that aren't VFC providers.
Parents can call the Health Department's COVID-19 call center, 800-803-7847, for more information.
The state said an increase in cases and hospitalizations among 5- to 11-year-olds was a feature of the six-to-eight-week summer wave. New cases and hospitalizations increased 50% and 84%.
"Five to 11 were a big part of the brunt in the number of cases we saw in this summer surge due to delta," Romero said during the state's weekly press update. "We need to protect them. This is a way to do so."
Hutchinson reiterated that the state hasn't mandated COVID-19 vaccines for any age group.
"Our schools do not have a mandate," he said. "Our state government does not have a mandate. There's no intention to impose those mandates under state rules or in our Department of Education.
"I want to assure everyone that this is a parental decision for their children. We encourage it and to get the right information and talk to your physician, but there's no mandate on that age group."
As a service to our readers, The Sentinel-Record publishes updates released by the city of Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas.
The Arkansas Department of Health is no longer reporting confirmed and probable cases separately. The following stats were posted Tuesday on the Health Department's website:
• 513,993 cumulative cases, up 641 from Monday.
• 440.71 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 19.85 from Monday.
• 4,096,481 PCR test reports, up 4,893 from Monday.
• 9.2% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Monday.
• 4,490 active cases, up 70 from Monday.
• 1,125 active juvenile cases, down nine from Monday.
• 500,949 recoveries, up 543 from Monday.
• 4,170,520 vaccine doses received, no change from Monday.
• 3,153,948 doses given, up 10,327 from Monday.
• 325 hospitalizations, down six from Monday.
• 88 cases on ventilators, down one from Monday.
• 147 ICU admissions, down two from Monday.
• 8,412 deaths, up 28 from Monday.
• 2,256 nursing home deaths, up two from Monday.
• 16,004 cumulative cases in Garland County, up nine from Monday.
• 7.86 rolling seven-day average of new cases, up 0.15 from Monday.
• 161,071 PCR and antigen test reports, up 144 from Monday.
• 10.3% cumulative PCR infection rate, no change from Monday.
• 81 active cases in Garland County, up one from Monday.
• 15,527 recoveries in Garland County, up eight from Monday.
• 396 deaths, no change from Monday.