With COVID-19 vaccines expected to be available for younger children next month, Gov. Tom Wolf said it could be a key step in lifting the statewide mask order on schools.
Wolf said on Tuesday with the manufacturer of the Pfizer vaccine pursuing emergency authorization to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 against the coronavirus and the maker of the Moderna vaccine not far behind, he will soon revisit that order.
All expectations are that the Pfizer vaccine could be available as soon as early November, he said. On Tuesday afternoon, an FDA advisory panel signed off on giving the vaccine to younger kids. The FDA isn’t bound by the recommendation but is expected to make its own decision soon.
Once that happens, it won’t be a “snap of your fingers” and suddenly the mask order is lifted. He said, “But that really changes the equation. So we have to think about what is the reasonable time.”
Wolf didn’t provide a timetable for when he anticipated making that decision.
The mask order was issued on Aug. 31 by Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The order, which took effect Sept. 7, applies to students and employees in school districts and preschools with limited exceptions.
The order was issued at Wolf’s behest to help keep students in classrooms after most school districts declined to mandate masks in their health and safety plans. Wolf asked the Legislature to return to session to consider a mask mandate but the leaders of both GOP chambers refused, saying it should be left as a local decision.
Since the order has been in place, it has been the subject of several lawsuits, legislation and heated battles at school board meetings and a point raced in contentious school board races.
The acting health secretary’s order included no end date but does say it will remain in effect until the secretary “determines the public health risk is sufficiently reduced so that face coverings are no longer necessary as public health tools in school entities.”
Wolf said the rate of infections and hospitalizations among younger Pennsylvanians has remained relatively flat, which is another encouraging sign that schoolchildren may soon be able to leave their face coverings at home.
The governor’s COVID-19 vaccination task force discussed the rollout of the vaccine for younger children at its meeting on Tuesday morning. Wolf said the task force talked whether those shots should be given by a pediatrician or pharmacy.
“I think the idea is parents are going to make up their minds,” Wolf said. “I think everybody likes the idea of the pediatrician but as somebody pointed out, not every family has a pediatrician. So what do you do? ... We didn’t answer the question but it’s an important question to raise.”
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
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