PA Reiterates Call To Vaccinate Children: 'It Remains Vital'

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania's leading health officials reiterated their call recently for parents to get their young children vaccinated against COVID-19. The call comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases statewide and the arrival of the new omicron variant in the state last week.

The vaccine is now available to all children ages 5 and older. Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson said the children's vaccine is crucial in the larger fight against the virus.

“Vaccinating children against COVID-19 is the best way to keep families, schoolmates, and communities healthy and safe this holiday season," she said.

As of Monday, the state has partially vaccinated 91,073 children between the ages of 5 and 11, the most recent pediatric group to have the vaccine approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Another 23,788 have been fully vaccinated.

RELATED: PA's First Omicron Variant Case Confirmed

While the virus initially did not spread rapidly among the younger age groups, that changed with the arrival of variants, as pediatric COVID-19 cases were as much as 10 times higher during several weeks of fall 2021 as they had been over the same period in fall 2020.

With holiday gatherings on the horizon, the recent surge in cases and the cooler weather, the pediatric vaccine is touted as being as important as ever. The state has now vaccinated 69.5 percent of its adult population 18 and over, authorities said. While it's a strong number compared with other states, it is a number that has struggled to increase much in recent weeks and months after the initial wave of vaccinations over the summer.

"To parents with a child ages 5 and older, I encourage you to get them vaccinated and give your child the power to safely learn, play and be a kid," Johnson added.

The announcement came as officials promoted the availability of the vaccine for children at the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester.

“Getting this free vaccine remains vital as it provides fewer opportunities for COVID-19 to spread and mutate,” Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Franklin said.

Similar to what was seen in adult vaccine trials, vaccination was nearly 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among children ages 5-11, the CDC said. In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild, self-limiting and similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines recommended for children. The most common side effect was a sore arm.

To learn more about scheduling a pediatric vaccination, see the Pennsylvania Department of Health's site.