Children 5-11 Years Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccination
Date: 11/04/21
To help protect our communities from the spread of COVID-19, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the Pfizer pediatric vaccine for all children ages 5 to 11 years old. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approval, young people in this age group can now receive the pediatric Pfizer vaccine.
All parents, guardians or caregivers of any adolescent receiving the vaccine must review the fact sheet prior to vaccination.
In Texas, parental consent is also required for the vaccination of children in this age group. Consent may be given orally or in writing. The parent does not need to be present for the adolescent to be vaccinated.
Superior encourages all parents/guardians of vaccine recipients to consider enrolling in V-safe, the CDC’s tool that provides health check-ins after someone receives a COVID-19 vaccine.
Only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is currently authorized for immunizing children 5 to 11 years old. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for ages 18 years and older.
While children are less likely than adults to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, they can be infected with the virus and spread infection in their homes and communities. Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) believes that promptly vaccinating adolescents in this age group is another valuable tool that will help end the COVID-19 pandemic.
DSHS and Superior HealthPlan will provide updates as they become available. Please continue to visit DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine Information or Superior’s Coronavirus Updates webpage.