Local families will soon be able to have their children ages 5 to 11 vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments, which includes Allen County, expects to start administering vaccines for that age group as soon as doses are available, director Rebecca Johnson said Wednesday.
An announcement will be made in the newspaper and radio, as well as through the health department’s website and Facebook sites, she said.
Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday said Kansas will adopt recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) regarding the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 and older.
“With this new development, the tools we need to keep kids safe and in school — and finally return to normal — are more accessible than ever,” Governor Kelly said. “We’ve been preparing for this announcement for months — and we stand ready to distribute this vaccine quickly and efficiently to every Kansas community.”
The vaccine is safe, effective, and free, Kelly continued.
“I encourage all Kansas parents to get their kids aged 5 and older vaccinated as soon as possible.”
The vaccine dose was designed for children, and underwent additional clinical trials specifically for people ages 5-11.
“While we have seen lower rates of COVID infections in children as compared to adults, the Delta variant brought the levels of infections in kids to record highs. This important development will help keep children safe and stop the spread of COVID-19,” Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said.
“These vaccines have been proven to prevent COVID-19 infection, severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and are important to get even if your child has already had COVID. But don’t just take my word for it – talk to your local doctor, get all the facts, and make the best choice to protect your family. Vaccination is the key to beating this pandemic.”
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