7/19 COVID VACCINE UPDATE-Pfizer Vaccine Available for ages 6months – Seniors
July 19, 2022
7/19 update. We have Pfizer vaccine for all approved age groups. Appointments are available for age 6mo- 4years, along with ages 5-11, and teens (and adults) over 12 years. We have safely and successfully immunized over 600 little ones since we began last month. Patients with portal access can make an appointments on line for our Tuesday and Thursday clinics, or call us. We will also immunize at regularly scheduled appointments whenever possible. Non patients may call or email info@dekalbpeds.net (include a phone number). We will continue vaccinating throughout the summer. First, second and booster doses can also be given for ages 5 and up, including adults.
6/22 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age. After a rigorous and comprehensive review the agency determined that the known and potential benefits of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the known and potential risks in the pediatric populations authorized for use for each vaccine.
ACIP has voted to recommend both vaccines and the CDC has given final approval. We have now safely given almost 18,000 Pfizer vaccines and will continue with Pfizer for the youngest age group. We have mastered the preparation, administration and record keeping and are excited for our families that our youngest patients will soon be protected.
To answer some of your questions about Covid vaccines for this age group, and Moderna versus Pfizer vaccine:
Although many young children have recently had Covid, with most cases being relatively mild, there have been over 200 deaths in this age group, many hospitalization’s, ER and office visits, worry, and disruption for so many families. The long term consequences from Covid 19 infections is yet to be learned. Vaccines offer the best tool we have for preventing serious illness and death and perhaps long term issues. Vaccination, in addition to any natural immunity from a prior symptomatic or asymptomatic case offers considerably more protection than that from natural immunity alone. So, even if you or your child had Covid, the vaccine is strongly recommended. Covid 19 vaccine can be co-administered with other vaccines.
Both vaccines are safe and effective and have EUA authorization. Moderna is a 2 dose series given 4 weeks apart. Pfizer is a 3 dose series with 3 weeks between dose 1 and 2, and dose 3 given at least 8 weeks later. In the clinical trials side effects were mild and only slightly higher than participants given placebo. There were no serious side effects.
There were no head to head comparison studies done, so there is no data to support one vaccine as preferred, or “better” than the other.
At this time we will only administer Pfizer vaccine. Covid vaccines require different storage and handling compared with any other vaccine, with many steps involved in assuring accuracy in preparation and dosing, which our staff is fully trained on and proficient with. Administering both brands at this time, each with their own dosing and scheduling intervals, does not logistically seem feasible, and creates the potential for vaccine errors.
Most important to us is that kids (of all ages!) get vaccinated, and our goal is to make the process as safe and easy as we can for our patients. We hope you are as comfortable as we are with the Pfizer vaccine, however if you have a strong preference for Moderna it is most important to us that your child get vaccinated. Moderna may be available elsewhere.
7/19 ONLINE APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE PORTAL. We have openings every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer. We will monitor and open additional appointments whenever possible, or you can call the office. Non patients can email info@dekalbpeds.net , including name, DOB, address and phone number, or call the office.
We continue to recommend and give boosters for 5-11 year old children at least 5 months after dose 2. Appointments for the booster are now available. We continue offering first and second vaccines for our 5-11 year age group(pediatric formulation), as well as first, second, and booster doses for ages 12 and up, including adults. Boosters must be given at least 5 months after dose 2. Please bring your vaccine card to your appointment.
At the time of Dose 1 a return appointment for Dose 2 will be given for 21 days, (or slightly more) later.
In answer to many questions:
Adults who got their initial vaccines at DPC can get boosters if we have supply- please bring your vaccine card.
Come exactly at your time – not early or late
Everyone must wear a mask
Look for the sign – you will wait on the ENTRANCE side porch. After receiving the vaccine you will wait 15 minutes for observation in our waiting rooms or outside.
If you can not keep your appointment please cancel on the portal and/or send an email to info@dekalbpeds.net
Read the Pfizer EUA Fact Sheet for 5-11 and download the V-safe app to monitor any side effects.
We are thrilled that there is so much interest in getting the vaccine and we are working as hard as we can to prioritize this while we continue to meet the needs of all of our patients. Thank you for your patience, understanding and flexibility.
And know that everyone will get an appointment and a vaccine! We are vaccinating as many children as physically possible every day. We know the best place for this age group to get vaccinated is at our office and we have an ongoing plan and a large supply of vaccine to make this happen. We can’t be more excited about offering this safe and effective vaccine to our patients and the community.
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