Wearing masks could save at least 14,000 people from Covid-19 deaths by August, model predicts

Janet Woodcock said the agency will evaluate "as quickly as possible" Pfizer's request to expand the emergency use authorization of the drug maker's Covid-19 vaccine to include people ages 12-15.

"While the FDA cannot predict how long our evaluation of the data and information will take, we will review the request as expeditiously as possible using our thorough and science-based approach," Woodcock said on Twitter.

The pharmaceutical company said it will seek similar rulings by other authorities around the world in coming days.

"These requests are based on data from the pivotal Phase 3 trial in adolescents 12 to 15 years of age with or without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which demonstrated 100 percent efficacy and robust antibody response after vaccination with the COVID-19 Vaccine," Pfizer said in a statement.

Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are up, CDC director says

Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing -- particularly for younger people -- while deaths are going down, Dr.

"It's acting differently from anything we've seen before, in terms of transmissibility, in terms of affecting young people, so we have to take this very seriously."

Concerns of adverse reactions

In Colorado, following reports of adverse reactions, three drive-up vaccination sites will stop offering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Saturday.

The sites are Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, and Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, according to a press release from Centura Health.

The health care network reiterated CDC guidance that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe and effective, but said the decision was made due to the nationwide shortage of the vaccine and instances of adverse reactions that occurred at a vaccination event at Dick's Sporting Goods Park earlier this week.

The CDC, in a statement to CNN, said it's aware of the various incidents related to the J&J vaccines reported in Iowa, Colorado, Georgia, and North Carolina.

At this time, the CDC and FDA "are not recommending health departments stop administering any lots of COVID-19 vaccine," the statement said.