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Friday, March 29, 2024

COVID-19 vaccines now available for children under 5

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DuPage County Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s (ACIP) recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for young children on Saturday, June 18, 2022. This follows the U.S Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of the emergency use of Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19 in children 6 months through 5 years of age and 6 months through 4 years of age, respectively.

The authorization was based on the FDA and ACIP’s evaluation and analysis of the safety, efficacy, and manufacturing data of these vaccines. Prior to authorizing, the FDA consulted an independent advisory committee of experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of making the vaccines available to children in this age group.

“After a long wait, COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months through 4 years of age are finally here. Vaccines remain a critical tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and preventing severe illness,” said Karen Ayala, Executive Director of the DuPage County Health Department, “COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. It is important to vaccinate children as soon as they are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine to keep them protected.”

Per ACIP-presented data, among U.S. children ages 6 months – 4 years of age, there have been over 20,000 hospitalizations and over 200 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. More than half of hospitalized children ages 6 months – 4 years had no underlying conditions. The primary goal of COVID-19 vaccination is to protect against serious illness and prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. According to data from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 52% of children aged 5-11 years old in DuPage County are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

DCHD anticipates opening registration for the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine by Friday, June 24, 2022, for appointments at our Central Public Health Center in Wheaton. Residents seeking an appointment sooner may be able to locate one closest to their home using www.vaccine.gov to identify a healthcare provider who is administering the vaccine or contacting their child’s primary healthcare provider.

More information about COVID-19 vaccines for children can be found by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or American Academy of Pediatrics websites.

For more information on COVID-19 in DuPage County, visit www.dupagehealth.org/covid19. Anyone age 5 years or older is also eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot and can find an appointment by going to www.vaccines.gov.

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PN Ombudsman
PN Ombudsman
An ombudsman is Scandinavian in origin dating back to Viking times; and refers to a community representative; usually acting independently on behalf of an organization, body of elected officials, or civic group. Thanks Scandinavia for inventing ombudsman.

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