Nearly 74% of eligible Americans have at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose

While awaiting Pfizer trial data for kids ages 5 to 11, the Food and Drug Administration is vowing not to cut corners. 

The FDA said, "it’s critical that thorough and robust clinical trials of adequate size are completed to evaluate the safety and the immune response."

"Children are not small adults -- and issues that may be addressed in pediatric vaccine trials can include whether there is a need for different doses or different strength formulations of vaccines already used for adults," the FDA said.

When the FDA receives a completed emergency use authorization request, "the agency will carefully, thoroughly and independently examine the data to evaluate benefits and risks and be prepared to complete its review as quickly as possible, likely in a matter of weeks rather than months."

"However, the agency’s ability to review these submissions rapidly will depend in part on the quality and timeliness of the submissions by manufacturers," the FDA added.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty

All employees of Milwaukee Public Schools must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination by Nov. 1, unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption, school board members voted unanimously on Thursday night.

The board also decided that staff who qualify for an exemption must take COVID-19 tests twice weekly. Anyone who does not comply with the new vaccine mandate or is not exempt would be placed on unpaid leave and ultimately could lose their job.

Students are not required to get vaccinated, but the board approved monetary incentives of $100 for those who are 12 and older and can provide proof of vaccination by the Nov. 1 deadline.

The Los Angeles Unified School District's Board of Education unanimously voted Thursday to require the COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible students.

All students ages 12 and up will be required to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 10, 2022, unless they have a "medical or other exemption," said the district, which is the second-largest in the nation with over 600,000 students.

All teachers and staff are already required to be vaccinated by Oct. 15. 

"Today's decision furthers our longstanding commitment to ensure the safety of our students, families, and staff," Board President Kelly Gonez said in a statement. "The vaccine is the single best way to protect students and schools from COVID-19."

The Department of Homeland Security announced it is doubling monetary penalties for those caught in violation of the federal mask mandate aboard various transportation methods, including in airports, on planes and passenger trains.

The new fines, which take effect Friday, will be $500 to $1,000 for first-time offenders and $1,000 to $3,000 for second-time offenders.

"We appreciate the majority of travelers each day who voluntarily follow the requirement, but find this action necessary to maximize the protections for those who use and work within the transportation system, and to contain COVID-19," Transportation Security Administration chief David Pekoske said in a statement. "By doubling the range of penalties, we seek to reinforce the importance of voluntary adherence."

The doubled fines are part of President Joe Biden's six-point plan to fight COVID announced Thursday. He also announced the mask mandate on public transportation would be extended until Jan. 18, 2022.

There have been 3,057 "mask-related incidents" on planes since the beginning of the year, as of Sept. 7, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"I'm announcing that the Transportation Safety Administration, the TSA, will double the fines on travelers that refuse to mask," Biden said during a speech Thursday. "If you break the rules, be prepared to pay. And by the way, show some respect. The anger you see on television toward flight attendants and others doing their jobs is wrong. It’s ugly."