COVID Boosters Expanded To Ages 5 To 11 In Fairfax Health District

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — After federal approval, the Fairfax 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.

"While children are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, the effects of the virus are unpredictable," the Fairfax County Health Department stated in a news release. "If infected with COVID-19, children can potentially become very ill, have short- and long-term health conditions, and spread COVID-19 to loved ones, and others at school and in the community."

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 Fairfax County, 53.6 percent of children ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated with two doses, and 60.7 percent have at least one dose, according to Virginia Department of Health data. In Fairfax City, 49.4 percent of this age group are fully vaccinated, and 68.7 percent in the City of Falls Church are fully vaccinated.

According to the Fairfax County Health Department, 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.

Residents may also seek an appointment from the Fairfax County Health Department clinics or search for other providers at www.vaccines.gov.

The Fairfax County Health Department covers the Fairfax Health District: Fairfax County, towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton, and cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.