COVID-19 Child Doses of Pfizer are Now Available from Pediatricians, Pharmacies and Tarrant County Public Health

COVID-19 Child Doses of Pfizer are Now Available from Pediatricians, Pharmacies and Tarrant County Public Health

Nov. 3, 2021 - (Tarrant County) – Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old is now available in Tarrant County. Parents and legal guardians should first talk to their pediatrician or local pharmacy to obtain their vaccination. Tarrant County Public Health will also be offering the children’s vaccine for those who cannot obtain it elsewhere.  

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine received final approval for use with children from the CDC on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. On Oct. 29 the vaccine received its Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. The FDA and CDC reviewed extensive data from trials to ensure the vaccine is safe for younger children. Critical points found during the studies include:

• Effectiveness: Immune responses of children 5 - 11 years of age were comparable to those of individuals 16 through 25. In addition, the vaccine was found to be 90.7 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in children 5 - 11.
• Safety: The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children age 5 - 11 who received the vaccine and no serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study.
• Dosage: The dose is just one-third (10 micrograms) of the dose for those 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms).

Children age 5 – 11 will receive two doses, 21 days apart, similar to those in the older groups already vaccinate. If a child cannot receive their second dose at 21 days, they are encouraged to get their second dose as soon as possible. Once the series has begun, there is no reason to restart; just finish up when it is possible. At this time, a booster dose is not recommended for children. 

“The more than 204,000, 5 to 11 year-olds in Tarrant County will now be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and help reduce the spread across our community,” said Tarrant County Public Health Director Vinny Taneja. “The fastest and easiest way to get a vaccine will be through the family pediatrician or at the local pharmacy. Public Health will offer the vaccine at each of its clinics across the County for those who need it.”

While younger children do not typically have severe outcomes when they contract COVID-19, they do act as spreaders taking it from home to school or from school to home, school to sports, school to daycare. In Tarrant County, there have been six deaths of people under the age of 18.

To find a COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Tarrant County, visit its website at www.tarrantcounty.com/vaccinefinder.

The COVID-19 vaccines are free to the recipients, whether they are insured or uninsured.

COVID-19 causes respiratory illness with cough, fever and shortness of breath and may lead to bronchitis and severe pneumonia. For more information go to the TCPH coronavirus page or call the Tarrant County Public Health information line, 817-248-6299, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday – Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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