KANSAS CITY, Mo. — People of all ages are contracting COVID-19, but the United States is one step closer to getting adults vaccinated.
On Thursday, an independent FDA advisory committee endorsed Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines.
However, a timeline for getting children vaccinated is still up in the air.
Dr. Barbara Pahud is the Director of Infectious Diseases Research at Children's Mercy Hospital.
"We will be looking at all ages in vaccines research," Pahud said. "Usually with children, we want to start with the older age group and once we prove that it's safe then we start moving to other age groups."
Dr. Pahud said there are many steps that have to be taken before giving children the vaccine.
"First, we need to do the same thing that you have seen us do live on news for all of 2020 for adults," Pahud said. "We need to go through phase 1-2-3 clinical trials. Complete the minimal required data for phase 3 clinical trials that shows the vaccine is effective and safe."
On Wednesday, Children's Mercy Hospital had nine kids in the hospital recovering from COVID-19.
Desa Hanchette is a Kansas City, Missouri of five and a two-time COVID-19 survivor.
"Honestly, I am lucky to be alive," Hanchette said.
"I bet you I have had 200 doctors appointments," she said.
Hanchette says she keeps fighting each day for her boys and she may soon get the vaccine.
However, her kids will have to wait their turn as the vaccine will only be for teens 16 years and older.
Pahud said parents need to be patient but help is on the way, even a possible clinical trial in Kansas City.
"We are working on them right now. We are probably going to start recruiting in 2021," Dr. Pahud said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNBC that trials for pregnant women and younger children could start in January.
