Covid-19 vaccines not yet approved for children, but they are a key step in pursuit of widespread immunity.

Covid-19 vaccines are not yet approved for children. Supplies for adults and the logistics of providing shots are proving steep challenges for manufacturers, the administration and state governments. As of Thursday, only about 1.3% of Americans had received the required two doses of currently available vaccines.

But vaccination of children is a key step in the pursuit of widespread immunity to a virus that has infected nearly 26 million in the US and killed more than 433,000. For the US to reach “herd immunity”, or widespread resistance, about 70% to 85% of the population must be vaccinated. Children make up about 25% of the population.