COVID Boosters Expanded To Children Aged 5 To 11 In Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — After federal approval, the Loudoun County Health Department and other providers are offering the COVID-19 vaccine booster to children aged 5 to 11.

Eligibility for a booster dose of the vaccine was expanded after approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. CDC recommends children aged 5 to 11 receive a booster of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least five months after the initial two-dose series. The pediatric dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine available to this age group.

"Loudoun County health officials continue to encourage everyone who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death," the Loudoun County Health Department said in a news release. "If you have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine, consider getting one."

CDC also strengthened its recommendation for a second booster for immunocompromised people ages 12 and older and adults 50 and older. This second dose is recommended at least four months after the first booster dose. CDC has an online tool to determine if a person should get a booster.

The recommendations came as COVID-19 cases increase across the U.S. In Virginia, the latest seven-day average of daily cases is 3,308, according to Virginia Department of Health data. A month ago on April 23, the seven-day average of cases across the state was 1,183.

Hospitalizations are slightly up but not nearly to the levels of the winter omicron surge. Virginia's current seven-day average of current COVID-19 hospitalizations is 429, including 55 in intensive care units and 23 on ventilators. according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.

In Loudoun County, 57 percent of children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated with two doses, and 63 percent have at least one dose, according to Virginia Department of Health data.

According to public health officials, a booster shot for children ages 5 to 11 produces similar side effects as the first two doses, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache.

To set up a booster dose for children ages 5 to 11, parents or guardians can contact their child's medical provider. COVID-19 boosters may be given at the same time or any time in between other immunizations.

Vaccines are also available at CVS, Walgreens, Giant, Wegmans, Harris Teeter, and others. More information about vaccine providers is available online at vaccines.gov.

Anyone looking for more information can call the county's COVID-19 information line at 703-737-8300.