How Children Can Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine

For many months, parents, grandparents, educators, coaches, and even children themselves have been asking when youth can receive the COVID vaccine. The time has come. After a thorough FDA review, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in children ages 5-11. This means that nearly 28 million children in the U.S. who are ages 5-11 are now eligible to receive the vaccine.

Eshita Bakshi, DO, chair of pediatrics at Emerson Hospital and a pediatrician with Walden Pond Pediatrics in Concord, explains why she is excited to have her children, ages 7 and 10, get vaccinated: “I have waited so long to provide this moment! They can now have the same protection I have — a vaccine against COVID-19 — and they can be closer to doing some of the things they love to do that they have not been able to do during the pandemic.”

Parents and guardians can now schedule appointments to have their child vaccinated. Emerson will be distributing pediatric vaccines to our affiliated pediatric practices. Please contact your pediatrician directly to check availability and schedule an appointment.

In addition, many local pharmacies are offering the pediatric vaccine, and some towns and community organizations are hosting pediatric vaccine clinics. For information and to schedule appointments, visit vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Families may have other questions about the vaccine. Please refer to the CDC website for information and answers, and contact your pediatrician if you have any additional questions about the vaccine.

Thank you for considering having your child get vaccinated, bringing us all closer to normalcy and an end to the pandemic.