Following Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine data regarding efficacy in children, health officials say planning for vaccine distribution is difficult at such early stages.

"It would just be speculation about whether we're advised to draw it out of the same dose, but measure the correct amount, or whether there'll be different vials, et cetera," Dr. Margaret Day, the vaccine co-chair and a physician at MU Healthcare, said.

Pfizer has said the company plans to apply for FDA emergency use authorization, but such approval could take weeks.

As such, many health officials say they're holding off on making definite plans for distributing vaccines to children under twelve or maintaining similar distribution plans as before.

The Cole County Health Department said its preliminary plan is to use its existing resources, with room for adaptability and input from pediatricians.

"We are watching the updates closely," Columbia Public Schools told KRCG 13. "Similar to when the vaccine became available for adults, then those 16 and older and lastly those 12 and older, we will offer free clinics for our students."

"It's hard to be able to plan for this type of thing because we just don't know when it might come," Sara Humm with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department said. She said her department is adaptive and prepared to distribute the vaccine, but emphasized the premature nature of the situation.

Pfizer's recommended dose for children between the ages 5 and 11 consists of two doses, 21 days apart, of 10 micrograms. That's a third of the dosage in adults, which is 30 micrograms.

Since children aren't as likely to develop symptoms from COVID-19, Dr. Day said Pfizer's study measured vaccine efficiency with a different method, called CoV-2 neutralizing antibody geometric mean titer.

"It's measuring the amount of immune response in the number of antibodies that go in kids after being vaccinated," Dr. Day said.