Delaware’s youngest residents – children ages 6 months old to 5 years old – can now receive the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations.
But how quickly you may be able to schedule a shot depends on where you plan to get the vaccine and whether they’ve received their doses.
The first shipments of the vaccines for young children were set to arrive in Delaware Monday for medical providers who pre-ordered the doses. However, not all medical providers in the state pre-ordered the vaccines, according to the state Department of Health and Social Services, so rollout timelines may vary.
COVID-19-related hospitalizations in children surged this past fall and winter due to the spread of the Omicron variant. In order to prevent future serious illness and hospitalization, the state Divison of Public Health strongly recommends vaccinating young children.
The state recommended that parents contact pediatric care providers directly regarding the timelines of vaccine rollout.
Where can I get my kids vaccinated?
The exact rollout time for each provider may vary depending on whether they requested doses and when they receive them.
Pediatricians, primary care providers, Division of Public Health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers are all able to vaccinate. The state also said that “a few additional providers” have also agreed to vaccinate people who may not be their patients.
FOR SUBSCRIBERS:From the Biden effect to COVID ‘revenge travel,’ why Delaware beaches are getting busier
The state encouraged parents and caregivers to talk with their pediatric care providers and to visit Delaware’s vaccine information site for more information regarding the vaccines.
Milford Public Health Clinic in Sussex County is accepting walk-ins to vaccinate children ages 6 months through 5 years old.
Other providers will begin accepting appointments within the upcoming week.
Beacon Pediatrics in Sussex County requires appointments beginning Wednesday, while Rainbow Pediatrics in Sussex County will begin administering the vaccine Monday, though it will limit walk-ins to Thursdays and Fridays.
Pharmacies are also allowed to vaccinate children in this age group, however not all will administer the vaccines to children under the age of 3.
For information on pharmacies participating in administering vaccinations to children, the following database lists the youngest age that each pharmacy in the state is willing to take on as patients.
FOR SUBSCRIBERS:What Delaware can learn about grief and hope amid another tragic milestone for COVID-19
When did it get approved?
The Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the vaccines for this age group under Emergency Use Authorization on Saturday.
What makes this dose appropriate for a child?
Both vaccines have adjusted doses for the younger age group.
Moderna’s vaccine is two shots containing a quarter of the adult dosage. It’s approved for children aged 6 months through 5 years old.
The Pfizer vaccine is three shots containing one-tenth of the adult dosage, with the approved age range being children aged 6 months to 4 years old.
Pfizer’s vaccine for ages 5 and up is already approved.
MORE TO READ:With businesses struggling to hire, workers describe the unending hunt as ’emotionally draining’
What are the side effects?
Side effects for both vaccines are generally rare and not severe or long-term.
Pfizer’s vaccine reported side effects including irritability, decreased appetite, fever, headache, chills and pain, tenderness or redness, and swelling at the site of injection.
Moderna’s most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the site of injection, fever, and underarm swelling or tenderness at the site of injection.
