Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration say appointments to vaccinate Massachusetts children between 6 months and 4 years old against COVID-19 will begin to be offered Tuesday.The news comes a day after U.S. health officials recommended the use of two different COVID-19 vaccines for the nation’s infants, toddlers and preschoolers.The Baker Administration said appointments will be available for booking starting Tuesday, June 21, with additional locations and appointments expected to come online in the following days. More than 400 vaccination locations for kids ages 6 months to 4 years old are expected to be available in the coming weeks, according to the administration.“We know parents and families have been waiting for this, and we are pleased to have this last age group approved for the COVID-19 vaccine,” Dr. Estevan Garcia, a pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “The vaccine for this age group has been rigorously tested and we encourage parents to add this vaccine to the list of critical vaccinations their children should receive. We urge parents to reach out to their child’s health care provider with any questions they may have.”Two brands of COVID-19 vaccines for that age group, Pfizer and Moderna, got the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday and the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday.For the 6 months to 4-year-old age group, the Pfizer vaccine consists of three pediatric doses and the Moderna vaccine consists of two pediatric doses.Children 6 months and older may receive a COVID-19 vaccination at locations such as their pediatricians’ offices, community health centers, state-supported vaccination sites, mobile clinics and some pharmacy settings, depending on the pharmacy and the child’s age.Parents who prefer to have their child vaccinated by their primary care provider should call their provider’s office directly. A full list of available locations can be found on the state’s VaxFinder tool. For those unable to use VaxFinder or have difficulty accessing the internet, the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available by calling 211 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. t0 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.COVID-19 vaccines are free and insurance nor identification are required to receive a vaccine. Click here for additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine, including frequently asked questions.The Baker Administration said more than 84% of eligible Massachusetts residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and over half of adults in the state are boosted.
BOSTON —
Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration say appointments to vaccinate Massachusetts children between 6 months and 4 years old against COVID-19 will begin to be offered Tuesday.
The news comes a day after U.S. health officials recommended the use of two different COVID-19 vaccines for the nation’s infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
The Baker Administration said appointments will be available for booking starting Tuesday, June 21, with additional locations and appointments expected to come online in the following days. More than 400 vaccination locations for kids ages 6 months to 4 years old are expected to be available in the coming weeks, according to the administration.
“We know parents and families have been waiting for this, and we are pleased to have this last age group approved for the COVID-19 vaccine,” Dr. Estevan Garcia, a pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said in a statement. “The vaccine for this age group has been rigorously tested and we encourage parents to add this vaccine to the list of critical vaccinations their children should receive. We urge parents to reach out to their child’s health care provider with any questions they may have.”
Two brands of COVID-19 vaccines for that age group, Pfizer and Moderna, got the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday and the recommendation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday.
For the 6 months to 4-year-old age group, the Pfizer vaccine consists of three pediatric doses and the Moderna vaccine consists of two pediatric doses.
Children 6 months and older may receive a COVID-19 vaccination at locations such as their pediatricians’ offices, community health centers, state-supported vaccination sites, mobile clinics and some pharmacy settings, depending on the pharmacy and the child’s age.
Parents who prefer to have their child vaccinated by their primary care provider should call their provider’s office directly. A full list of available locations can be found on the state’s VaxFinder tool. For those unable to use VaxFinder or have difficulty accessing the internet, the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Line is available by calling 211 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. t0 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
COVID-19 vaccines are free and insurance nor identification are required to receive a vaccine. Click here for additional information on the COVID-19 vaccine, including frequently asked questions.
The Baker Administration said more than 84% of eligible Massachusetts residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and over half of adults in the state are boosted.
