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Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup approves vaccines for young kids

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup unanimously concluded Sunday that both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old, Gov. Jay Inslee’s office announced.

The vaccines were already approved for use in the U.S. in children as young as 6 months old by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, but the workgroup signed off on the use of the vaccines in the states of Washington, Oregon, California and Nevada.

According to a news release, the workgroup concluded that the benefits of either vaccine series “substantially outweigh” any known risks.

“Immunization can be expected to reduce the numbers of COVID-19-related serious illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths in young children while facilitating their participation in normal educational, social and recreational activities,” the governor’s release said.

“This is excellent news for Washington families, and I know many parents who have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get their youngest children vaccinated,” Inslee said in a statement. “I encourage parents to contact their trusted providers to discuss any questions or concerns. These vaccines remain the most important tool in our continued efforts to keep people safe from severe COVID illness or hospitalization.”

Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October 2020. The group is made up of nationally acclaimed scientists whose expertise is in immunization and public health.