RI children 5-11 could get COVID-19 vaccine by mid-November; officials outline test-to-stay pilot program

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Following the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel’s recommendation for emergency use authorization of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11, Gov. Dan McKee and other state officials further discussed the state’s plans at a briefing Wednesday afternoon.

McKee started by discussing how the state reached his goal of getting 90% of adults at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19. Overall, roughly 78% of Rhode Island’s total population is at least partially vaccinated, while 71% is fully vaccinated.

Before vaccines are rolled out to some of Rhode Island’s youngest residents, the state launched a test-to-stay pilot program, with Westerly Public Schools named as one of the first districts to take part. The goal is to have unvaccinated, asymptomatic students and staff in pre-K to grade 6 stay in school, even after being identified as a close contact.

“There is no substitute for in-person learning,” R.I. Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said.

Watch: Infante-Green’s remarks (story continues below)

According to Infante-Green, rapid antigen tests will be administered to students at the start of school for seven days. If the seventh day falls on a weekend or holiday, they’ll have to get tested on the next school day.

During the testing period, students can attend classes and extracurricular actives with an adult present to ensure mask-wearing. Students are not to participate in non-school activities during that time.

If the pilot program is proven effective, Infante-Green said it will be offered in other school districts. To measure the effectiveness, the number of days saved by students attending school will be measured.

Watch: Dr. Alexander-Scott’s remarks (story continues below)

Earlier on Wednesday, the R.I. Vaccine Subcommittee laid out a timeline for COVID-19 vaccines for kids 5-11 in a joint meeting with the R.I. Vaccine Advisory Committee. The presentation noted that by Nov. 4 — or once the emergency use authorization is in place — the state would start administering vaccines to younger kids at the Sockanosset vaccine clinic, pharmacies, family practices, and pediatrician offices.

The subcommittee said as of Oct. 25, 55 pediatricians and family practitioners had been fully onboarded to administer the vaccine to 5- to 11-year-olds, though efforts to expand the network of primary care physicians continue.

During the briefing, Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said once emergency use is authorized, Rhode Island will receive an initial shipment of 27,000 doses for younger kids, which are a smaller dosage than those given to adults. She said that will be followed by shipments of 9,000 doses in the subsequent weeks.

Alexander-Scott said mid-November would be a reliable timeframe for when the vaccines would be ready for the 5-11 age group. She noted 80,000 Rhode Island children are estimated to be in this next age group.

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