Coronavirus vaccinations for children between the ages of 5 and 11 have begun in Mississippi. Earlier ths week, the CDC gave approval for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to be used in this younger age group through an emergency use authorization. Vaccines were already in the state prepared to be distributed according to Dr. Anita Henderson, President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
She says the vaccines used in this new age group have a different concentration and dosage size than the standard vaccine, and not all vaccine providers may have vials on hand.
“The first thing I would do is call your pediatrician or your family practice doctor and ask them if they have it available, and if not there will be information on vaccines.gov as far as which locations have the Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11,” says Dr. Henderson.
Vaccines are available at pediatric offices, county health departments, and select pharmacies and clinics.
At Children’s Hospital of Mississippi, doctors are celebrating the one year anniversary of the new Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower. Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Mary Taylor says this facility has been crucial at helping treat children with coronavirus as the state’s only children’s hospital. She says getting vaccines to younger children will help protect them and keep them in school.
Dr. Taylor says “Children in that 5-11 age range make up close to 40% of the people under the age of 18 who are still vulnerable to getting COVID-19. I think people inaccurately assume that children don’t get sick with COVID. They can get very, very sick. We’ve had many, many children hospitalized here. Children can die of COVID and they can have long standing complications and problems.”
If children get vaccinated as early as this week, their immunities will not be fully prepared for Thanksgiving gatherings. However Dr. Henderson says these early vaccinations should provide adequate protection for the December holiday season.
