COVID-19 vaccine for kids 5 years and older approved

November 4, 2021 11:32 am

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved the Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 years and older. The COVID-19 vaccine dosage for 5-11-year-olds is one-third of the amount given to adults. This is because vaccine dosing is not dependent on weight and size like medications are. Vaccines rely on our immune systems which change as we age.

Many parents have been waiting for the vaccine approval and we expect many questions especially in the early weeks. We urge all parents to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to get your child vaccinated through a local pharmacy in your community or with your Primary Care Clinic. Due to limitations in storage capabilities, we will not be providing the COVID19 vaccine in our clinic. The State is working to ensure vaccines will be available in primary care clinics, at school vaccine clinics, in local public health clinics, and in tribal clinics. The Minnesota department of health is also launching a special child-friendly site at the Mall of America.

If you are looking to get vaccinated without a visit with a provider, there are many options available:

  • Search the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Vaccine Connector. You can type in your zip code to find where you can get vaccinated close to your home.
  • Check with the pharmacies in your community.
  • Children’s Minnesota is scheduled to receive the newly approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 this week (Nov. 1-7, 2021). Though there are no mass vaccination clinics planned at this time, they plan to begin scheduling vaccinations within a day of receiving the vaccine through their primary care clinics.

If you have additional questions, read our answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19.

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