Children 6 months and older eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in Virginia

RICHMOND — All Virginians from the age of six months and older are eligible now to get a free COVID-19 vaccine, in keeping with the Virginia Division of Well being, following the unanimous suggestions on June 18 from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna pediatric vaccines for the youngest of kids.

The CDC’s unbiased panel of specialists, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, really useful the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 6 months via 4 years and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 6 months via 5 years. The CDC director gave her last approval to the advice later that afternoon, the Virginia Division of Well being stated in a information launch.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is a three-dose sequence with the primary two doses administered three weeks aside and a 3rd dose not less than two months after the second dose.

The Moderna vaccine is a two-dose sequence administered 4 weeks aside.

The Virginia Division of Well being want to stress to folks that suppliers can select which vaccine to supply to their sufferers, the VDH stated.

Some suppliers might select to supply each vaccines, whereas others might determine solely to supply one. Mother and father ought to comply with up with their pediatrician or different healthcare supplier for particular details about the vaccines they’ll offer, suggested the VDH.

As a result of VDH has been planning for the enlargement of vaccine eligibility and availability for a number of months, households can have many choices for the place to get their youngsters a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

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Vaccination websites might embody:

• Pediatric places of work
• Household apply places of work
• Federally Certified Well being Facilities (FQHCs)
• Retail pharmacies for youngsters ages 3 years and older
• Native well being departments

The next is a press release from Virginia’s State Vaccination Coordinator and Director of the Virginia Division of Well being’s Division of Immunization Christy Grey:

“With the CDC’s endorsement of the advice of its unbiased panel of advisers that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be safely administered to youngsters 4 years of age and youthful down to six months of age and the Moderna vaccine to youngsters 5 years of age down to six months, one of many last fronts within the battle in opposition to COVID-19 has opened up.

“We at VDH are happy to start providing this vaccine to folks who wish to defend their youngest youngsters from extreme sickness and hospitalization as a result of this virus. There are a number of venues open to Virginia mother and father to vaccinate their youngsters, together with group vaccination occasions arrange by native well being departments, pharmacies and, after all, pediatrician’s places of work. We urge mother and father to seek the advice of with their little one’s healthcare supplier about vaccination.

“VDH is happy that oldsters have this chance and are empowered to guard their youngest youngsters in opposition to this virus.”

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— Monique Calello (she/her) is a well being & social justice reporter with The Information Chief within the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. You possibly can attain her at  mcalello@newsleader.com.