By Oluwaseun Sonde
United States has authorized Covid vaccination for kids under the age of 5 years which was recommended by Food and Drug Administration and Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the White House Twitter handle on Saturday, this makes United States the first country to protect its youngest children with COVID-19 vaccines.
"Offering safe and highly effective mRNA vaccines for all children as young as six months old, and giving parents peace of mind of knowing their child is protected.
White House further stated that appointments will become widely available in the days and weeks ahead.
"We encourage you to talk to your pediatrician or health care provider and make a plan to get your child vaccinated as soon as it becomes available to you".
The CDC Director, Rochelle P. Walensky attributed, “Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nation’s fight against COVID-19.
"We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can.
"I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor, nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated.”
Earlier, the CDC endorsed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
In a statement released by on Saturday, saying in expands that eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children and means all Americans ages 6 months and older are now eligible for vaccination.
Further said parents and caregivers can now get their children 6 months through 5 years of age vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines to better protect them from COVID-19.
"All children, including children who have already had COVID-19, should get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo—the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.
"Parents and caregivers can play an active role in monitoring the safety of these vaccines by signing their children up for v-safe personalized and confidential health check-ins via text messages and web surveys where they can easily share with CDC how a child feels after getting a COVID-19 vaccine".
The Agency made it known that the distribution of pediatric vaccinations for these younger children has started across America, and will be available at thousands of pediatric practices, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, local health departments, clinics, and other locations this week.
"Children in this younger age group can be vaccinated with whichever vaccine is available (either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech).
"Parents can reach out to their doctor, nurse, local pharmacy, or health department, or visit vaccines.gov to see where vaccines for children are available", CDC said.
United States President, Joe Biden reacting to this development on Twitter said, "For the first time, virtually every American can access the protections from these lifesaving vaccines from our youngest to our most senior Americans. We have been preparing for this moment.
"Our Administration has already secured vaccine doses for America’s youngest and are now launching a comprehensive effort with states, local health departments, America’s pediatricians, family doctors, and more to help get shots into arms".
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