Agnes Tsai draws up a dose of the Pfizer vaccine during a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Oregon State Fairgrounds on Thursday, Jan. 28. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Oregonians age 12 to 15 can get a Pfizer Covid vaccine starting Thursday after the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup confirmed the shot is safe and effective for teens.
Gov. Kate Brown’s office announced the approval Wednesday night. It followed a safety review of the vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Three Covid vaccine are currently approved for adults, but only the Pfizer vaccine has been reviewed for safety and effectiveness in people under 18. The Pfizer vaccine is available in the Salem area at the mass vaccination site at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, and at many local pharmacies.
The fairgrounds clinic began vaccinating teens Thursday morning, Salem Health spokeswoman Lisa Wood said. Walk-in appointments are available, and the clinic is pen 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. More information is on the Salem Health website.
In Oregon, minors 14 and under need parental consent to receive medical care, including vaccination. Teens age 15 to 17 can consent to many types of medical care, including vaccination, without parent or guardian approval, the Oregon Health Authority said.
-Rachel Alexander
