PITTSBURGH — The Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Saturday that children ages 5 and under would be eligible to receive vaccinations for COVID-19. For many parents, this is welcome news but others are unsure of what to do next.
“We’ve kind of seen it go to a younger and younger age, so it’s nice that it’s there. It’s just not something that I’ve thought about for our family just based on our circumstances,” said Jim Buzzelli, a father of three children. The youngest is 10 months old.
Children ages 6 months to 5 years are the last group of people to be offered the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I think to each their own. I think it’s great that it’s available if that’s something that people feel very strongly about. For us it hasn’t been something that has come up. We both work from home and so our youngest has been home with us. So I guess I feel that down the road for day care if it was required, then I’m happy that that’s an option for him,” said mother Julie Buzzelli.
The CDC and FDA gave the go-ahead on using a three-dose Pfizer vaccine for kids 5 and under and a two-dose Moderna vaccine for kids 6 and under. Parents can begin scheduling appointments and vaccine administration will be available on June 21.
One parents who plans on vaccinating her children is Shanice Williams from Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood. She has a four year old son and a one year old daughter.
Her only concern is how long the process will take.
“It’s a shot but then there’s a second shot, a third shot so is it something that will be a continued future event for them based off of one shot? I just want to wait and see how this continues to play out,” said Williams.
Pharmacists across Pennsylvania are only allowed to give COVID-19 vaccines to kids ages three and older. Parents with kids under three should contact their pediatrician or family doctor.
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