Kids may have to wait for vaccine
Staff writer
Although a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was approved Oct. 28 for ages 5 and older, Marion County parents won’t be able to vaccinate their children until later in November.
County medical officer Don Hodson said Marion County Health Department would figure out how to distribute the vaccine next week.
“Hopefully, how it’s going to go in the long run is individual doctors and family pediatricians get it,” Hodson said. “I’m sure the health department will offer it, it’s just that the ducks aren’t in a row for that to happen.”
The health department, occupied with booster clinics, was not aware of vaccine eligibility until half a day after it was announced.
Getting the vaccines shipped may present problems.
“When the state’s got to coordinate, who knows if it’ll happen in two days or two weeks,” Hodson said.
Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are still under review for use in people younger than 18.
In a study by the Federal Drug Administration involving 3,100 children ages 5 through 11, the vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing COVID. At the appropriate dosage (one-third the size of the regular vaccine), there were no serious side effects.