CDC Vaccine Recommendation Expands to Children Under 5

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Saturday, June 19, that children as young as 6 months old can now be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Parents and caregivers can now get their children 6 months through 5 years of age vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to better protect them from COVID-19,” according to the CDC. “This expands eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children, and means that all Americans ages 6 months and older are now eligible for vaccination.”

Both vaccines received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Friday, June 18.

Moderna will be a two-dose series, four weeks apart, and Pfizer-BioNtech will be a three-dose series. Both will be a lesser dosage than the vaccine adults receive.

“Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nation’s fight against COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can. 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.”

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials said the vaccine would become available at more than 900 sites starting this week—including 400 mobile sites, 200 pharmacies, 180 healthcare provider facilities and seven Public Health Points of Dispensing.

“The development and approval of the vaccines for children under age 5 have gone through a rigorous evaluation and approval process, as with all other routine childhood vaccines,” Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer said in a statement. “As we make plans to gather with family and to enjoy the summer and upcoming holidays, now is the time to make sure that all our children are fully vaccinated. Vaccinated children and adults add an essential layer of protection for the entire community, especially with the proliferation of new, highly infectious variants.”

As of Saturday, June 12, over 19 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across LA County. To date, 91.4% of Pacific Palisades and 91.5% of Palisades Highlands residents have gotten at least one shot, according to data from Public Health.

As the Palisadian-Post went to print Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 had reached 3,071,314 across the county when factoring in Long Beach and Pasadena, with 32,263 deaths.

Pacific Palisades had reached 4,092 confirmed cases and 18 deaths Tuesday, with an additional 776 in Palisades Highlands and two deaths.