Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months to 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This expands vaccination eligibility to nearly 20 million more children and means that all Americans ages 6 months and older are now eligible for vaccination.
Parents and caregivers can now have their children 6 months to 5 years old vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to better protect them against COVID-19. All children, including children who have already had COVID-19, should be vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines have undergone—and will continue to suffer—the most intensive security surveillance in US history. Parents and caregivers can take an active role in monitoring the safety of these vaccines by enrolling their children in v-safe – personalized and confidential health checkups via text messages and online surveys where they can easily share with the CDC how a child feels after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Distribution of pediatric vaccines for these young children has begun across the country and will be available this week at thousands of pediatric practices, pharmacies, federally licensed health centers, local health departments, clinics and other locations. Children in this younger age group can be vaccinated with any available vaccine (either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech). Parents can contact their doctor, nurse, local pharmacy or health department, or visit vaccines.gov to see where childhood vaccines are available.
The following is attributable to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky:
“Together, with science in the lead, we have taken another important step in our country’s fight against COVID-19. We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can. I encourage parents and caregivers who have questions to speak to their local doctor, nurse or pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by having them vaccinated.
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