Late last week the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced its support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that children 5-11 years old receive the …
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Late last week the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced its support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation that children 5-11 years old receive the two-dose pediatric version of the Pfizer vaccine (one-third of the dose of the adult vaccine). Pierce County Public Health (PCPH) and local pediatric doctors also support this recommendation.
Dr. Amber Morgan, a pediatrician based in River Falls, says there are many really good reasons why parents should get COVID-19 vaccine for their children.
“COVID-19 is among the top 10 causes of death for children in this age group. Now, we have the opportunity to move COVID-19 off that list. The Pfizer vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in children. I am recommending the Pfizer vaccine for my patients, and it is what I am doing for my own children,” said Dr. Morgan.
About 8,300 children in this age group have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 nationally. About one-third of children in this age group who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 had no underlying health conditions.
The vaccine is recommended for children who've had a previous COVID-19 infection because natural immunity is highly variable, and the risk of reinfection after natural infection is two to five times higher than the risk of reinfection with vaccines.
To help answer other questions many parents have, PCPH developed a FAQ document with some of the most common parent concerns. There are several options available locally to get your child vaccinated against COVID-19:
• Contact your pediatrician, family doctor and/or pharmacist about the pediatric Pfizer vaccine.
• Freeman Drug in River Falls will offer the pediatric Pfizer vaccine this month: https://freemandrug.as.me/schedule.php
• Pierce County will also offer the pediatric Pfizer on Nov. 23 in Ellsworth. Appointments will be available starting Friday the 12th on the Pierce County website (https://piercecountycovid19vaccine. as.me/schedule.php) and via phone at 715-273- 6755.
•Other vaccination sites are listed on https://vaccinate.wi.gov/en-US/ Submitted by PCPH
