Children under 12 can get COVID-19 vaccine
Children ages five to 11 years old, are now eligible to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart, for full protection, and is the first and only vaccine currently available for this age group.
Vaccinations for this age group will begin as soon as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases the associated clinical guidance, and vaccinators are able to review and complete the necessary trainings.
“The pandemic has been tough on everyone, but I know it has been especially hard for our kids,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “Now, with a COVID-19 vaccine available to nearly all school-aged children, we can do more to protect our kids from this virus.”
After successful clinical trials and a rigorous review of all available data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized Pfizer’s request Oct. 29, to expand the emergency use authorization (EUA) to include the younger children. The CDC director officially confirmed the vaccine is safe Nov. 2, and recommended the vaccine to this age group.
“We will soon begin vaccinating more of Wisconsin’s children, to protect them from the long-term symptoms of COVID- 19, and reduce disruptions in and out of the classroom,” said Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) secretary- designee Karen Timberlake. “We are urging parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated as soon as they can, to protect them and those around them.”
Disease activity remains very high across Wisconsin. Children and youth under 18 continue to represent the highest number of new confirmed cases, compared to other age groups. COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant, can have a serious impact on a child’s health.
Infection with the Delta variant has resulted in nearly three times the number of children in the hospital in the U.S., since early summer. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 1,600 Wisconsinites, under 20 years old, have been hospitalized with COVID-19.
Parents and guardians can schedule a vaccination using a variety of options, including with their healthcare provider, at community-based vaccination clinics, local and tribal health departments, or pharmacies. To locate a provider administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children, visit Vaccines.gov.
