BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) \u2014 North Dakota is receiving its initial order of 5,700 coronavirus vaccine doses for young children now that federal officials have endorsed the shots for youngsters ages 6 months to 5 years. An estimated 50,000 North Dakota children are eligible to receive the vaccine after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended the shots for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. North Dakota Immunization Program Director Molly Howell says health care providers are in the process of educating staff and updating protocols, so most providers will begin vaccinating children later this week or early next week. Howell says they hope to vaccinate about 10% of the newly-eligible children in the first week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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| This weekend, the CDC endorsed the recommendation from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that children ages 6 months to 5 years be vaccinated against COVID-19 with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. <\/p>\n COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children) and long-term complications, such as \u2018long COVID,\u2019 in which symptoms can linger for months. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 8,457 cases of COVID-19 in North Dakotan children 6 months through 4 years old, 62 children were hospitalized, and one child sadly passed away. Nationally, about half of those hospitalized in this age group had no underlying medical conditions and almost a quarter required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).<\/p>\n \u201cThe North Dakota Department of Health has ordered and will receive 5,700 pediatric COVID-19 doses from the federal government,\u201d said NDDoH Immunization Program Director Molly Howell. \u201cNow that the FDA has authorized and CDC has recommended this vaccine for this age group, the vaccine will be available at over 100 healthcare provider offices throughout the state, including local public health, pediatric, family practice clinics and pharmacies. Healthcare providers are in the process of educating staff and updating protocols, so most providers will begin vaccinating children later this week or early next week.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCOVID-19 vaccination in older age groups continues to provide excellent protection against severe disease and death, and it is anticipated that this will also be true for younger children,\u201d said Immunization Director, Molly Howell. \u201cMany parents of young children have been waiting to have COVID-19 vaccine available. Vaccine has been made widely available in our state and no individual, including children, should face barriers receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations.\u201d<\/p>\n Both pediatric vaccines are smaller doses than the adult dose. The Pfizer vaccine is a three-dose series over the course of 3 months and the Moderna vaccine is a 2-dose series over the course of 1 month. In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild. The most common side effects were irritability and pain at the injection site. COVID-19 vaccines have undergone \u2013 and will continue to undergo \u2013 the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.<\/p>\n \u201cParents are encouraged to talk to their child\u2019s healthcare provider, local public health nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and explore their benefits and risks,\u201d said Howell. \u201cIt is also important that all North Dakotans ages 5 and older receive at least one booster dose. Those who are immunocompromised or 50 and older should receive a second booster dose. Due to waning immunity and changes in the COVID-19 virus, booster doses are necessary to provide protection against severe illness.\u201d<\/p>\n Information about COVID-19 vaccine providers and clinics near you can be found on the NDDoH COVID Vaccine Locator<\/a> page. Individuals can also contact the NDDoH Public Health Hotline at 1-866-207-2880 for questions related to COVID-19 and for assistance in scheduling a vaccine appointment.<\/p>\n # # #<\/p>\n NDDoH to hold media availability Monday<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Monday at 3:00pm CT, NDDoH will hold a media availability regarding this announcement. Those available for questions will include: Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Director; Kirby Kruger, NDDoH Disease Control & Forensic Pathology Section Chief; and Jennifer Galbraith, NDDoH COVID-19 Vaccine Manager.<\/em><\/p>\n WHO:<\/em><\/strong> Molly Howell, Kirby Kruger, Jennifer Galbraith<\/em><\/p>\n WHEN:<\/em><\/strong> 3:00 – 3:30pm CT, Monday, June 20<\/em><\/p>\n WHERE:<\/em><\/strong> Online via virtual press room at <\/em>http:\/\/health.nd.gov\/VPR<\/a><\/p>\n This link is for working media members only. No registration is necessary. Questions may be submitted via the Q&A panel at any time once the event starts. Due to time constraints, not all questions submitted may be asked, and questions may be limited to one question per media outlet depending on volume.<\/em><\/p>\n _______________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n For more information, contact: <\/strong><\/p>\n North Dakota Department of Health Communications <\/strong>dohcommunications@nd.gov<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n |