THE Southern Nevada Health District has begun rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to children under the age of 5, following authorization from health officials.
Last week, an independent panel of advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend vaccinating children ages 6 months to 5 years with two separate COVID-19 vaccines.
Under the emergency use authorization, children in the age group can receive either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky endorsed the recommendation of the panel.
“We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can,” Walensky said in a statement. “I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor, nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated.”
As of Wednesday, June 22, the Health District is offering the Pfizer vaccine, a three-dose series, at its clinics located at the College of Southern Nevada’s West Charleston and North Las Vegas campuses, the Galleria at Sunset, the Boulevard Mall inside El Mercado, and at the Southern Nevada Community Health Center clinic at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. (located in the external structure on the south side of the building). The Health District will also begin offering the Moderna vaccine, a two-dose series at the Health Center clinic at 280 S. Decatur Blvd.
Vaccine availability for younger children follows recommendations by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and authorization for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 4 years of age and is a three-dose series. The second dose is administered between three and eight weeks after the first dose. The third dose is administered at least eight weeks after the second dose. (Available at multiple Health District clinic locations.)
The Moderna vaccine is authorized for children ages 6 months to 5 years of age in a two-dose series, with the second dose administered four to eight weeks after the first dose. (Available at 280 S. Decatur Blvd.)
Children in this younger age group can be vaccinated with whichever vaccine is available. Children who have already had COVID-19 should still get vaccinated, the Health District said.
Children who have been infected with COVID-19 can get the vaccine three months from when their symptoms started, or if they were asymptomatic, three months after they received a positive test. Children can also safely receive other vaccines the same day they receive their COVID-19 vaccine. n
