(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — The race to vaccinate Americans and put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic was bolstered Monday, when the Food and Drug Administration announced Monday authorized the Pfizer vaccine to be distributed to children ages 12 and up.

Clinical trials studying the vaccine’s effects on younger recipients found that its efficacy was 100 percent, outperforming the 95 percent efficacy among adult clinical trial participants.

Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said Monday, “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.”

Previously, Dr. Anthony Fauci said during the virus’ peak in January that the nation needs to have between 70 and 85 percent of the nation being fully immunized against the coronavirus before the nation starts seeing a return to normalcy.

Currently, about 35 percent of the American population is fully vaccinated, which is about 115 million people.

It is said that children 12 and up will now have the opportunity to be fully vaccinated before the fall, which will reduce the burden placed o schools in the ongoing fight to stop the virus’ spread.

Moderna, another vaccine maker, is still studying their vaccine’s results on children over the age of 12.

In addition, both companies are looking into their vaccines’ efficacy in children between the ages of six months to 11-years-old.  

Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, says results should be forthcoming by the end of the year.

COVID-19 has infected over 32.7 million Americans and has killed over 582,000 people in the U.S., according to data from Johns Hopkins University.  

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.