NH DHHS Announces Expansion of COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to Children as Young as Six Months Old

Harmony, NH – The New Hampshire Division of Well being and Human Companies (DHHS) broadcasts COVID-19 vaccines are actually obtainable for kids as younger as six months of age. Over the weekend, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously voted to advocate each the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for infants and youthful kids after reviewing information exhibiting that each vaccines are secure and efficient. 

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months by means of 5 years is given as a 2-dose major collection, and people who find themselves reasonably or severely immunocompromised can obtain a third extra dose as a part of their major collection. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months by means of 4 years of age is given as a 3-dose major collection, no matter an individual’s immunocompromised standing. It’s possible that each major collection would require boosters sooner or later. 

“We’re excited for this new advice that now permits dad and mom and caregivers to guard their younger kids from COVID-19 and potential well being issues,” mentioned State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan. “These vaccines are secure and efficient, and we advocate that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated. Dad and mom and caregivers ought to begin by contacting their major care suppliers to ask about vaccine availability.” 

DHHS has been getting ready for COVID-19 vaccines approval for this age group for a number of weeks. 22,700 doses of pediatric vaccine have already been ordered and near 10,000 doses have been delivered to New Hampshire, with extra shipments arriving weekly. Greater than 200 suppliers within the state are offering COVID-19 vaccine on this age group. Dad and mom and caregivers ought to first discuss to their baby’s pediatrician to see if they’re administering vaccine. If a toddler’s pediatrician just isn’t administering vaccine, dad and mom and caregivers can go to vaccines.nh.gov for a map of public vaccination suppliers within the state or www.vaccines.gov to seek for vaccines by age group. Vaccinating everybody, together with kids 6 months and older, gives the perfect protection in opposition to critical outcomes associated to COVID-19.

For extra info on COVID-19 in NH, please go to www.covid19.nh.gov.