The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the administration of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for children as young as 12 years old.

The FDA announced authorization for the emergency use of the Pfizer vaccine Monday throughout the United States after a clinical trial found the vaccine did not cause serious adverse effects among children in the age group.

“Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “Parents and guardians can rest assured that the agency undertook a rigorous and thorough review of all available data, as we have with all of our COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations.”

The clinical trial found the Pfizer vaccine to be 100 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among the age group, according to the FDA.

Currently, individuals ages 12 and older are eligible to take the Pfizer vaccine, according to the announcement.

This is an expansion from the previous change to the FDA’s original Emergency Use Authorization allowing those age 16 and older to receive the vaccine.

Four deaths and 179 new coronavirus cases were reported across Los Angeles County Monday, according to Public Health.

As vaccinations continue to be made available, Public Health is urging residents of Los Angeles County to get vaccinated.

“It’s wonderful to see this line continuing to rise, albeit at a slightly slower pace than earlier this year,” said Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer.

To date, L.A. County has experienced 1,235,797 COVID-19 cases as well as 24,003 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, according to Public Health officials.

As of Monday, there are 389 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized across L.A. County.

Over 6.5 million individuals have been tested across L.A. County, with 17 percent of people testing positive, Public Health officials said.

On Sunday, seven new COVID-19 cases were reported in the Santa Clarita Valley, with 26,916 cumulative cases having been reported in the valley over the past year, according to the LADPH. These cases include:

• 20,351 in the City of Santa Clarita* (+6)
• 47 in the unincorporated areas of Bouquet Canyon
• 843 in the unincorporated areas of Canyon Country (+1)
• 3,730 in Castaic*
• 68 in the unincorporated areas of Newhall
• 1 in Placerita Canyon
• 15 in San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon
• 17 in unincorporated Sand Canyon
• 130 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus
• 40 in the unincorporated areas of Saugus/Canyon Country
• 1,143 in Stevenson Ranch
• 337 in the unincorporated areas of Val Verde
• 194 in the unincorporated areas of Valencia

*As of Saturday, May 8, public health officials have recorded 2,027 cumulative cases have been reported at the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center, including 1,478 at the North County Correctional Facility. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals. Those cases are distributed between both the City of Santa Clarita and Castaic totals.

In nearby Acton, there have been 472 cumulative cases, as well as 280 cases in Agua Dulce.

A total of 145 coronavirus deaths have been reported at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, with at least 291 COVID-19 deaths reported across the Santa Clarita Valley since March 2020.

To learn how to make an appointment, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more, visit the L.A. County Vaccination website (English) or Vacunate Los Angeles website (Spanish).

Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

See All Coronavirus Coverage: Coronavirus Coverage – COVID-19 Map

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.