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Children age 5-11 are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Missouri. Our agency is planning to host two clinics during the week of November 15th to offer additional times for those seeking to schedule an appointment for thier minor children.

These pediatric clinics will be as follows:

• Tuesday, November 16th from 1:15pm-4:30pm
• Thursday, November 18th from 3:00pm – 5:45pm

Please visit our website here to schedule an appointment or call our office at 573-324-2111.

See the full press release regarding this new eligibility here:

For Immediate Release:

November 3, 2021

Media Contact: Lisa Cox, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Children age 5-11 now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in Missouri

More than 533,000 of Missouri’s population includes children age 5-11 who will now be eligible for vaccination

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has adopted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation for children ages 5-11 to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC’s recommendation, announced yesterday, was made based on an in-depth review of available safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children on October 29.

Previously, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was authorized for use in individuals age 12 and older. The vaccine for children age 5-11 is a smaller dose (10 µg), which is a third of the dosage for individuals 12 years and older (30 µg). The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a series of two doses, 3 weeks apart, for all eligible individuals.

“As a parent myself, I understand the concerns about vaccinating their young children,” said Donald Kauerauf, DHSS Director. “It is important to make an informed decision based on factual, scientific information, not what is available in a social media feed. I highly encourage parents to discuss their child’s vaccination with their pediatrician or trusted medical professional.”

In clinical trials, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was found to be more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in children age 5-11. Vaccine side effects were mild and similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines recommended for children. These are normal signs that their body is building protection, but they should go away in a few days. The most common side effect was a sore arm.

“While it is less common for a child to become severely ill or need hospitalization due to COVID-19, that risk certainly does exist, which became more evident during the recent Delta variant surge,” said Kauerauf. “The Delta variant is still prevalent among COVID-19 cases, and it is impacting people differently than what we witnessed a year ago. Also, we know kids can and do spread the virus and can unknowingly cause severe illness in others including senior citizens and at risk populations.”

According to census data, more than 533,000 of Missouri’s population includes children age 5-11 who will now be eligible for vaccination.

Missourians over the age of 12 are still encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not done so to date. Sufficient supplies of vaccines are available throughout the state.

Distribution of just over 116,000 pediatric doses across the state began earlier this week, with federal plans to scale up to full capacity over the next two weeks. Providers operating under the state’s standing orders should follow the guidance as written for COVID-19 vaccine administration for children age 5-11. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that is given to adults and adolescents cannot be used for children age 5-11.

Providers who pre-ordered pediatric vaccines are listed at MOStopsCovid.com, and later this week Vaccines.gov will list locations on an interactive map where vaccine is available. You can also text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.

Both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for use in individuals 18 years and older and will continue to be available to adults. Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccines and find a vaccine near you at MOStopsCovid.com.

Parents + Kids COVID-19 FAQs

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About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in protecting health and keeping people safe. More information about DHSS can be found at health.mo.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter @HealthyLivingMo

All COVID-19 Booster doses will be available at the Pike County Health Department beginning on Wednesday, October 27^th  and will be offering a mass clinic style MODERNA COVID-19 Booster clinic on Tuesday, November 2nd. The CDC recently released a statement recommending COVID-19 booster shots for certain populations. There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.

Booster Basics:

• Must qualify under at least one of the following conditions:

• • 65 years of age and older and/or residents in long-term care settings
  • 18–64 years of age with underlying medical conditions
  • 18-64 years of age who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting (e.g. frontline medical workers, teachers, and first responders) 
  • Previously received a 1 dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

• For previous Pfizer OR Moderna recipients, you must wait 6 months since your 2nd dose before receiving the booster.
• For previous Johnson & Johnson recipients, you must wait 2 months since your 1st dose before receiving the booster.
• Please bring your COVID-19 Vaccine Card.

Getting your COVID-19 Vaccines:

• Pfizer: Mondays by appointment
• Moderna: Wednesdays by appointment & Special Booster Clinic held on Tuesday, Nov. 2^nd.
• Johnson & Johnson: Monday – Friday, no appointment necessary

Available data right now show that all three of the COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized in the United States continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and reduce the spread of the virus and help prevent new variants from emerging.

We encourage the public to decide which vaccine is right for them and contact us with any questions. Visit our website at www.pikecountyhealth.org  to schedule an appointment, read the CDC’s full press release, and find more resources on the COVID-19 vaccines.

READ THE CDC MEDIA RELEASE HERE:

CDC Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots

Our agency is now offering the 3^rd Dose & Booster Dose COVID-19 vaccines. Please read the following information carefully. Recently the Moderna & Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for 3^rd doses for the moderately to severely immunocompromised. At this time only the Pfizer vaccine has been approved for Booster doses that are available to those who fit the criteria listed below. The CDC has released guidance as to what individuals are able to receive the 3^rd & Booster dose and they are specific to who and when they can be received. Please see below the information to understand if you are eligible to receive a 3^rd Dose or Booster dose.

Who can receive the MODERNA or PFIZER 3rd dose? You must have ALL of the below scenarios:

• If you have previously received your 1st & 2nd dose of Moderna OR Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine. Vaccine brands are interchangeable. 
• If it has been at least 28 days since your 2nd dose was administered.
• If you fall into one of the following categories as being moderately to severely immunocompromised:
  • Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
  • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

Read more on 3rd Dose COVID-19 vaccines from CDC >>>

Who can receive the PFIZER Booster Dose? You must have ALL of the below scenarios:

• If you have previously received your 1st & 2nd dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine.
• If it has been at least 6 months since your 2nd dose was administered.
• If you fall into at least one of the following categories:
  • 65 years of age and older and residents in long-term care settings
  • 50–64 years of age with underlying medical conditions
  • 18–49 years of age with underlying medical conditions
  • 18-64 years of age who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting (e.g. frontline medical workers, teachers, and first responders) 

Read more on the Pfizer Booster from CDC >>>

If you qualify under any of these circumstances, you can easily schedule your 3rd Dose or Booster dose with our agency. We offer Pfizer on Mondays & Moderna on Wednesdays, both by appointment. Call our office for this appointment or go online to book yourself at pikecountyhealth.org.

Our agency will now be offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by appointment only on Mondays each week. Pfizer is available to anyone age 12 and over. Parents/Legal Guardians must accompany minor children to their appointment, if unable please call our office about the required paperwork. You can learn more about the Pfizer, other COVID-19 vaccines, and book appointments by visiting our website at www.pikecountyhealth.org/covid-19. We continue to offer MODERNA by appointment on Wednesdays, and J&J Monday-Friday with no appointment necessary.