MN Health Dept. Asks Parents To Get Kids Vaccinated Before Holidays

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Health is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of holiday celebrations.

The latest push comes after the Food and Drug Administration authorized children aged 6 months through 5 years to receive an updated, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster.

The new dose will help increase protection against currently circulating variants, state and federal health officials said. The updated vaccines have begun arriving in Minnesota.

"Thankfully, children getting very sick from COVID-19 is not very common, but children do get COVID-19 and we can’t predict which children will get very sick, so prevention is the best option," said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm in a news release.

"The best way to protect your child and your family is to get them vaccinated against COVID-19, and that includes the updated bivalent vaccine when they are due."

Children under 5 first became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in June. However, vaccination rates for the youngest Minnesotans remain very low across the state, causing concern among health officials as the virus mutates and immunity wanes.

• Less than 17 percent of children aged 6 months through 4 years have received at least one dose
• Less than 5 percent of children 4 and under are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines
• Less than 10 percent of children aged 5-17 years are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines,

"These vaccines are safe and one of the best tools we have to protect our children’s health," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Ruth Lynfield.

"Vaccination helps keep children safe and healthy, and helps protect other vulnerable family members, like grandma and grandpa, by reducing spread."

Find a vaccine appointment on the state of Minnesota website.