Following recent approvals by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for administration of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine among kids ages 5-11, doctors at AdventHealth Central Florida are urging parents to get their kids vaccinated.
“There’s 28 million children in the age group of 5 to 11, and none of them should die of a vaccine-preventable disease,” Dr. Michael Keating, chief medical officer of AdventHealth for Children, said. “We can beat COVID. These kids need to be vaccinated.”
While many children experience fewer life-threatening symptoms when exposed to COVID-19, doctors said during a Nov. 4 broadcast, children have died due to COVID-19 complications and can spread the virus to more vulnerable family members.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 are dosed about one-third the size of doses given to adults and youth 12 and older.
AdventHealth physicians anticipate being able to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the newly eligible children soon. Florida Department of Health in Volusia County Administrator Patricia Boswell said the department plans to order the Pfizer pediatric vaccine doses Tuesday, Nov. 9, to offer at the Department of Health.
For more information about where to find pharmacies and other providers offering COVID-19 vaccinations for kids ages 5-11, visit www.vaccines.gov/search.
