Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announce that the Department of Health Services is offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to children ages six months to five years old on Thursday, June 23. The announcement follows approval of the COVID vaccine for this age group by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 82,000 children in Suffolk County comprise the newly eligible age cohort.
“We’ve sacrificed so much for more than two years while trying to keep our families safe from COVID-19 and now we finally have approved vaccines to protect our youngest residents,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “I encourage parents to schedule an appointment at our vaccine clinic, or with their pediatrician.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 13.5 million children in the U.S. have been infected with COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and although most children experience mild symptoms, more than 42,000 have been hospitalized in the U.S. and at least 1,240 children aged 18 and younger have died.
Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Health Commissioner said: “We urge parents to continue to take this unpredictable virus very seriously and have their children immunized as soon as possible. I believe families should feel confident that the safety and efficacy of vaccines for this age group were firmly established before approval was considered.”
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children six months to five years in two 25-microgram doses with 28 days between the two doses.
The vaccination clinic dedicated solely to vaccinating the six month to five-year age cohort with Moderna vaccine will be held Thursday, June 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the H. Lee Denison building located at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge.
Vaccine supply is limited to 90 doses. Registration is recommended. To make an appointment, visit: https://vax4.suffolkcountyny.gov OR call 311. Identification is required.
Medical experts will be available at each of the clinics to answer any questions and offer information and guidance. Parents or legal guardians must provide consent for vaccination, either in person, by phone at the time of the appointment, or by completing a consent form.
The county will hold additional clinics in the coming days and will offer both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines once the vaccine orders are received.
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