Kids under 5 can now get COVID-19 vaccines in Sedgwick County
Children under 5 years of age can now receive COVID-19 vaccinations in the Wichita area. This news comes on the heels of last Thursday’s federal approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
The Pfizer vaccine is available for children ages 6 months through 4 years and the Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months through 5 years. The vaccines are administered in lower doses to young children.
Per the FDA’s authorization, the Moderna vaccine can be given in 2 doses administered four weeks apart. The Pfizer vaccine can be given in 3 doses.
Parents should contact their medical providers or clinic for vaccine availability. You can now find providers with available doses for young children at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine locator tool at www.vaccines.gov/search.
For children under 5 without insurance or with CHIP or Medicaid/KanCare, the Sedgwick County Health Department will be providing the Pfizer vaccine at its main clinic, at 2716 W. Central, later this week. To schedule an appointment via SCHD, call 316-660-7300.
In a news release, Health Department director Adrienne Byrne expressed excitement about the news, given these “so called ‘tender age’ vaccinations are the last age group to be cleared for COVID-19 shots.”
Byrne encouraged parents to “talk to their child’s pediatrician about these safe and effective vaccines” that provide high protection against COVID-19.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 5:28 PM.