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Western Kentucky health departments begin offering COVID-19 vaccines for newly eligible children

Marshall County Health Department
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Following emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 5-11 can now receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. At least one health department in western Kentucky is already giving shots to newly eligible children, with other departments making plans to do so in the coming week.

FDA officials have previously stated that the decision to grant emergency authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 comes after a “thorough and transparent evaluation of the data,” as well as an independent advisory committee of experts who overwhelmingly voted in favor of allowing the vaccine to be available to the expanded age range of children.

The vaccine is a smaller dose of the same vaccine given to teenages and adults. The dosage is only 10 micrograms, rather than 30 micrograms of the vaccine.

The vaccine is administered in two doses that are three weeks apart. According to the FDA, it has a reported 90.7% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5-11.

The Pennyrile District Health Department — covering Lyon, Livingston, Crittenden, Caldwell and Trigg counties — began offering the Pfizer vaccine to newly eligible children Tuesday. Department Administrative Specialist Grace Donaldon said the vaccine is available at all five department locations throughout the department’s coverage area.

She said department officials are using special, smaller needles to administer the pediatric dose so kids feel more comfortable. Donaldson said the best thing to do if a parent wants their child to be vaccinated is to call their local health department and schedule an appointment.

“Each health department [location] has what we call a ‘COVID Clinic Day’ during the week, and we do most of our COVID vaccinations on that day,” Donaldson said. “They are different in each county, so the best thing to do is call the health department and tell them you want to schedule an appointment for your child to get their pediatric dose.”

Donaldson also said they’re extending department location hours next week, from 7AM to 6PM, so parents can take their kids to get vaccinated before or after work.

“We know that parents work, and it’s hard for them to take off work. So, we wanted to give them an opportunity before and after work to get their kids vaccinated,” she said. “It’s approved by the CDC and FDA. We want you to feel safe as a parent. We want you to do the research, but they are safe. They are effective. So, we highly encourage parents to get their children 5 to 11 vaccinated.”

Other opportunities will also be available soon in the Purchase region for parents who want their kids to be vaccinated.

Marshall County Health Department Director Billy Pitts said his department is waiting to receive pediatric doses that have a specific orange cap to distinguish them from doses given to those 12 years and older. He said the doses will be approved by their in-house physician before the first shot will be given to a newly eligible child.

Pitts said vaccine administration for kids age 5-11 “could be as early as late this week or early next week.” He expects the doses to be arriving as soon as Tuesday.

Pitts said his department doesn’t normally offer the Pfizer vaccine, but will make an exception for the doses offered to children ages 5-11.

Families can find other health departments and private pharmacies in the region that have doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 by using the federal vaccine online portal.

Zacharie Lamb is a music major at Murray State University and is a Graves County native.
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