Harrisburg - Following the approval of two vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health says vaccine providers across the state are prepared to begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations for children 6 months and older beginning early this week.
The federal agencies have approved the use of a three-dose Pfizer vaccine for children under 5 years old and a two-dose Moderna vaccine for children under 6 years old. Both vaccines are approved for children as young as 6 months.
“The approval of the vaccines for young children across the state and the nation is welcome news for many parents who have been waiting for the opportunity to provide valuable protection for their children from COVID-19,” Acting Health Secretary and Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said. “Parents can begin scheduling appointments early next week with many vaccine providers, including pediatricians and primary care physicians, who will have the vaccine available for administration as early as Tuesday (June 21).”
The department notes that pharmacists across the state are only allowed to provide COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 3 and older, so parents seeking appointments for children under 3 should contact their pediatrician, family doctor or other qualified physicians.
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