COVID Vaccine For Kids 5 to 11: Where To Get One On Long Island

LONG ISLAND — Children ages 5 to 11 are now approved to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and some of the nation's largest pharmacies say they're ready to start administering the shots to eligible Long Islanders.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the green light on Tuesday — paving the way for more than 290,000 elementary school-aged children on Long Island to get the shot.

To date, only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for kids ages 5 to 11. It's administered twice, three weeks apart, and contains one-third of the adult dosage.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said the vaccine was safe and called its approval a vital step forward in the fight against the pandemic.

"As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated," she said.

Patch has reached out to the offices of Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone for comment.

CVS, Walgreens Offer Pediatric Shot of Pfizer Vaccine

CVS announced Wednesday that it will be offering the pediatric shot of the Pfizer vaccine starting Sunday, Nov. 7, "upon receipt and confirmation of vaccine supply."

"We know many parents have been waiting for the opportunity to vaccinate their young children and are looking for convenient access to a trusted resource for vaccinations," said Dr. Troyen A. Brennan, executive vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Health. "Our immunizers have been preparing for this important role, and stand ready to help answer parents' questions, guide them and their children through the process, and administer the vaccines safely, with kindness and caring."

CVS says it will initially offer the COVID-19 vaccine to 1,700 locations across 46 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. You can book an appointment by calling CVS or by clicking here.

In a separate statement, Walgreens announced it will also administer the kid-size dose of the Pfizer vaccine in thousands of stores nationwide. Appointments will be available beginning Saturday, Nov. 6, and can be made at Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine, through the Walgreens app, or by calling 1-800-WALGREENS.

Pediatric Offices Already Receiving The Vaccine

Pediatricians across Long Island are already beginning to administer the Pfizer vaccine to kids under 12 years old.

According to News12, Great Neck's Etta Fisher, 8, and her brother Arnold, 6, received their shots Wednesday. They are among the first Long Islanders within the 5 to 11 age group to get vaccinated.

Valley Stream Pediatrics' Dr. Marc Lashley told Newsday that his office has already received vials of the pediatric vaccine and plans to administer shots this week. Patch has reached out to his office for further comment.

Health Experts Weigh In On Vaccine's Efficacy, Side Effects

Similar to what was seen in adult vaccine trials, vaccination was nearly 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among children aged 5-11 years, according to the CDC.

In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild, self-limiting, and similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines recommended for children. The most common side effect was a sore arm.

"COVID-19 vaccines have undergone — and will continue to undergo — the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history," the agency said. "Vaccinating children will help protect them from getting COVID-19 and therefore reducing their risk of severe disease, hospitalizations, or developing long-term COVID-19 complications. Getting your children vaccinated can help protect them against COVID-19, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission."

Dr. Bruce Farber, Northwell Health's chief of infectious diseases, told Newsday that myocarditis — or inflammation of the heart muscle — is extremely rare in children ages 5 to 11, and that people were more likely to get it after contracting COVID-19 than from the vaccine.

"The risk-benefit ratio from this vaccine is overwhelmingly in favor of giving it," Farber said. "And any concern I had about myocarditis has really been put on hold. Considering what's going on with COVID in the world and how susceptible children are, and how they can spread it, people should absolutely get this vaccine for their children."