[Archived] City of Alexandria Provides COVID-19 Updates; FDA Authorizes Pfizer for Children Ages 5-11

­­For Immediate Release: October 29, 2021

Help end the pandemic by wearing a mask over both your nose and mouth, washing your hands frequently, and getting vaccinated. Approximately 1 in 20 Alexandrians who have tested positive for COVID-19 have required hospitalization, so without these critical steps, additional lives may be at risk.

FDA Authorizes Pfizer for Children Ages 5-11

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided emergency use authorization of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11. As the only vaccine authorized for those under 18, Pfizer was previously available for ages 12 and older. The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) and other providers must receive additional approval and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before administering COVID-19 vaccines to children. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to meet on November 2 and 3 to discuss the FDA's action and make a recommendation to the CDC. The CDC Director will then make a decision about vaccine use. AHD is planning for the expansion of vaccine availability to this age group, including coordination with pediatricians and pharmacies. 

Alexandria COVID-19 Data At-a-Glance

The Alexandria COVID-19 Dashboard below shows the daily change in the number of COVID-19 cases, deaths and 7-day average, as well as the cumulative totals. The chart focuses on the past 90 days and provides context for the CDC transmission levels. An interactive version is available at alexandriava.gov/114883. The Alexandria COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard below includes total doses administered across all facilities, the percentage of residents ages 12 and older who have received at least one dose, the number partially and fully vaccinated, and progress toward Alexandria’s and the state’s vaccination goals. Vaccination charts are available at alexandriava.gov/120654. Detailed data, including data on age, race and ethnicity, are available through links at alexandriava.gov/Coronavirus. 

At least one dose: Total number of people who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including those who received one dose of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. This metric includes all people who have received only one dose and those who received at least one dose.

Fully Vaccinated: Total number or percent of people who have completed the recommended series of a given vaccine product (i.e., two doses of the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine).

Partially Vaccinated: Total number of people who have received the first dose of a two-dose vaccine course but have not yet received the second dose. 

Continue following measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 even after vaccination. Get tested if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. If you test positive, help loved ones and neighbors by informing your close contacts using “ What to Do If You Get Sick” guidance, which is available in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Farsi or this brief video.