‘Can’t come fast enough’: Pittsburgh teachers ready for students to get COVID-19 vaccine

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PITTSBURGH — Pfizer is preparing to seek emergency use authorization for children to get its COVID-19 vaccine, and Pittsburgh teachers believe it’s needed.

Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, said as soon as the shot is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, teachers in her union want students to get vaccinated.

>>RELATED STORY: ‘Hopeful’: Pittsburgh pediatrician says Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids a potential game changer

Pfizer said its vaccine prompted a strong antibody response in children ages 5 to 11, which Esposito-Visgitis called promising.

“When I’m hearing that schools are shutting down, we’re hearing that children are being affected by this and hospitals are filling up, so you can imagine how it’s affecting teachers,” Esposito-Visgitis said.

>>STORY: Pfizer says vaccine prompts strong antibody response in children ages 5 to 11

“I was just in a meeting today where I heard that 525 children have died from COVID, which was sickening to hear. So, the vaccinations for children can’t come fast enough,” Esposito-Visgitis said on Monday.

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