COVID-19 updates: 70% of American adults fully vaccinated

The CDC's expert on myocarditis, a rare heart inflammation condition that's been linked to the vaccine, said Tuesday that he believes the benefits of the vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds outweighs the potential risks of myocarditis.

"The bottom line is: getting COVID, I think, is much riskier to the heart than getting this vaccine, no matter what age or sex," Dr. Matt Oster said.

None of the more than 3,000 children in the age 5 to 11 clinical trials developed myocarditis from the vaccine, which has been seen in a rare number of cases, mostly among young men. 

Oster said, "I believe it's less likely that the 5- to 11-year-olds will have myocarditis. Although we will watch and see for sure, and they may have some, but I don't think it's going to be nearly to the extent of the older adolescents and young adults."

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett

A new study finds mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are 77% effective against hospitalizations among people with immune compromised conditions, compared to 90% effective among hospitalizations among people without such conditions. 

This study -- a multistate analysis of nearly 90,000 hospitalizations from January to September 2021 -- adds more evidence that vaccines don't work as well among people with compromised immune systems. Also, people with certain immune compromised conditions are more at-risk than others. 

-ABC News' Sony Salzman

The daily case average in the U.S. has jumped by 13.3% in the last week, according to federal data.

Alaska currently has the country's highest infection rate, followed by Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. Puerto Rico, Florida and Hawaii have the lowest infection rate.

Hospitalizations are declining. About 48,000 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the U.S., down by nearly 104,000 patients from eight weeks ago.

Hospital admissions are also down by 11.7% in the last week, according to federal data.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Several major pharmacy chains told ABC News they are gearing up to offer the Pfizer vaccine to 5- to 11-year-olds within days of its approval by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency is expected to give the green light as early as Tuesday night. If approved, roughly 28 million children would be eligible for the mRNA vaccine.

"We expect to be able to provide vaccinations for this age group shortly after November 3," Rite Aid said in a statement.

Walgreens said in a statement that, "appointments will open as we receive supply to stores, beginning this week."

A spokesperson for CVS said the chain will share more specifics about its vaccine rollout once the authorization is made, and will provide customers with information on its website.

"We have played a prominent role in administering third doses to the immunocompromised and authorized booster shots, and are prepared to expand vaccine eligibility to ages 5-11 as soon as authorized to do so by public health agencies," CVS said in a statement.

-ABC News' Sasha Pezenik