COVID vaccines for children 6 months and older encouraged by SC health officials
COVID-19 vaccinations have been approved for children ages 6 months and up, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said it’s encouraging everyone eligible to get the shot.
On Saturday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for the young age group and recommended everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Previously, only those 5 years old and up had been cleared by the CDC to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Additionally, now the CDC is saying that everyone 5 and older should get a booster shot.
DHEC said it’s glad research has shown these vaccines are safe and effective and strongly encourages all South Carolina parents to talk with their child’s health care provider and get their children vaccinated to increase protection against the coronavirus, according to the release.
“Having a safe and effective vaccine for this youngest age group is great news for South Carolinians,” DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said in a news release. “While most children experience relatively mild or even no symptoms if they are infected with COVID-19, severe cases and even deaths in young children can occur, and they can easily spread the virus to family members, especially those who are elderly or immunocompromised.”
Vaccination remains the best way to prevent severe cases of COVID-19, DHEC said.
South Carolina’s initial allocation of COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months old and up includes 27,800 doses of Moderna and 27,800 doses of Pfizer, according to the release. DHEC will offer these free vaccines at many DHEC vaccine clinics, including health departments. DHEC said it’s vaccine locator will list the clinics that have the vaccine available and designate them as “6 months to 5 years.”
In addition, DHEC is working with pediatricians and other providers to ensure they have a supply if they choose to offer the vaccine for kids under 5 year old. Residents are encouraged to check with local health care providers and pharmacies to see if they are offering the vaccine.
“Getting this younger age group vaccinated will go a long way in our ongoing efforts to control the impacts of COVID-19 and keep our families safe, especially as we get further into the summer months,” Simmer said
There have been at least 1,524,771 positive tests for COVID-19 in South Carolina and 17,995 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to DHEC. Of those, 53,420 of the cases and five of the deaths have occurred in children younger than 5, DHEC data shows.
About 55% of all South Carolina residents eligible for the vaccine have completed the vaccination series, DHEC said.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 9:31 AM.
