Health & Fitness
COVID-19 Shots Arrive For Children Under 5: How To Get Them In MA
Vaccine appointments for children 6 months to 4 years old are available for booking starting Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker says.
MASSACHUSETTS — Starting Tuesday, parents of the youngest age group to be allowed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 can start booking appointments to vaccinate children between 6 months and 4 years old, Gov. Charlie Baker said.
So far more than 400 vaccine locations for children ages 6 months to 4 years have been set up and are expected to be available in the new few weeks, but if you'd rather have your child be vaccinated by their primary care physician, you should call their provider's office directly.
Massachusetts health officials recommend using two different vaccines for children under 4: either Pfizer or Moderna. Both vaccines were approved for this age group by the Food and Drug Administration on Saturday and received recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Pfizer vaccine consists of three pediatric doses, and the Moderna vaccine consists of two pediatric doses.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
More than 84 percent of Massachusetts residents are already vaccinated against COVID-19, and after pushing the FDA to expedite the child vaccinations, Baker says this will be a big relief for the "nearly 20 million children younger than five-years-old who remain 'unnecessarily' at risk for the virus."
Depending on the child's age, they may be able to receive a vaccination at locations like community health centers, their pediatrician's office, vaccination sites, and some pharmacy clinics, Baker added.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
COVID-19 vaccines are free and do not require health insurance or identification to receive a shot. The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be safe, effective, and protective against serious illness caused by the virus.
Anyone with questions on the vaccine should reach out to their primary health care provider, or call the state's COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line at '211' from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
Click here to find a vaccine clinic near you. Click here for additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine.
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