When Will Kids Under 5 Be Eligible For COVID Vaccines In PA?

PENNSYLVANIA — Children 5 to 11 years olds are the latest to join the group of the population eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in early November, but kids under 5 in Pennsylvania may possibly be able to get their first shot in the first half of 2022 following Pfizer's timeline, according to Forbes.

If the company follows its deadlines, a vaccine for 2- to 5-year-olds could be approved in the first half of 2022 and a vaccine for toddlers between 6 months and 2 years could be available in the second half of 2022.

It will be welcome news in Pennsylvania, where, since the onset of the omicron variant, "transmission is now increasing disproportionately among children compared to adults," the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's PolicyLab said. Hospitalizations for both adults and children remain high statewide.

Pfizer and BioNTech said they expect to submit an application for the use of the COVID-19 vaccine under 5-year-olds in the first half of 2022, according to Pix 11.

The company is studying a possible third dose for children under 5. Pfizer said that testing has shown that their immune response with two small doses was not as high as desired, but found no safety concerns so far.

"The decision to evaluate a third dose for children 6 months to under 5 years of age reflects the companies’ commitment to carefully select the right dose to maximize the risk-benefit profile," Pfizer said in a statement.

The company also announced it is planning to produce a third shot for children 5 to 12 years old and a different one for adolescents aged 12 to 17.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is currently urging everyone ages 5 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible when the vaccine for this group became available.

State health officials continue to encourage parents to vaccinate their kids, noting that it's a key tool in stopping the spread of the virus in schools and elsewhere.

"We need all eligible residents to get vaccinated and get boosted to stop the spread of variants that are pushing health care workers to their limit," Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter said.

Currently, a third dose of the vaccine or a booster shot is available for people 18 and over. Those aged 16 and 17 years old can get a booster and are eligible for a Pfizer booster only.

Boosters or third doses should be administered a certain number of weeks after the last shot, depending on the person's age and health condition and what vaccine they took in the past.

With reporting from Patch correspondent Catarina Moura