Number of teens mistakenly received COVID-19 vaccine at Pittsburgh clinic

PITTSBURGH — A small number of teenagers ages 12-15 mistakenly received the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday; one day before the Centers for Disease Control officially signed off on it.

It happened at the Pittsburgh Mills vaccine clinic that was put on by Allegheny Health Network.

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An AHN spokesperson explained in the following statement that they would be stopping vaccines for the age group until further notice from the CDC is available:

“AHN’s vaccine clinic at the Galleria Pittsburgh Mills Mall today is offering both first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine to adults age 16 and up and single J&J doses to adults 18 years of age and up. Operations started at 8 am and continued as scheduled throughout the day. With the FDA’s emergency authorization of the Pfizer vaccine in children 12-15 yesterday, a small number of individuals within this age range received the vaccine at our clinic this morning. Although the FDA’s approval means that the vaccines have been deemed safe for use in recipients of this age group, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is now reviewing the data to make an official recommendation. Following the PA Department of Health’s direction, AHN is waiting for this announcement before further vaccinations are provided to ages 12-15 at our clinics. The CDC’s ACIP is scheduled to discuss the recommendation tomorrow. We appreciate the eagerness of many families to have their children vaccinated and will share more information about AHN clinics for children ages 12-15 when they are scheduled.”

The FDA has already given emergency authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for this age group, but the CDC will meet on Wednesday to make an official recommendation.

About 750,000 Pennsylvania children are expected to become eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot after U.S. regulators expanded the use of the two-dose vaccine to 12- to 15-year-olds, state health officials said Tuesday.

Doctors are estimating that Thursday will be the first day in the state where the age group can receive the vaccine.

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