Pediatric providers prepare to vaccinate Oregons youngest against COVID-19 – Oregon Public Broadcasting

Pediatric providers prepare to vaccinate Oregons youngest against COVID-19 - OPB

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Now that the COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children under five, pediatric providers are preparing for the initial wave of tiny patients to get their first shots.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the vaccination for littles 6 months to 4 years old on Saturday.

With the CDC's authorization, 17 million American babies and toddlers are now eligible to receive pediatric doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

Serena Black is a pediatrician and medical director for the PeaceHealth Childrens Service Line at RiverBend Medical Center in Springfield. She said established PeaceHealth Oregon patients will be able to make appointments for designated vaccine days soon. Its important to note that PeaceHealth clinics dont have pediatric doses on hand, yet.

Its still pretty early, Black said. We were able to pre-order though, so were doing everything we can to be prepared as soon as possible for people who are eager to get the vaccine for their children.

PeaceHealth Oregon plans to vaccinate several hundred patients in the first few weeks after vaccine supplies arrive. Vaccination will be ongoing as clinics receive additional orders of vaccines. Black said they have pre-ordered the pediatric Pfizer brand which is a three-dose series and expect the initial batches to arrive perhaps by the end of the week.

Patients of other medical practices are recommended to go through their pediatrician or primary physician to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.

Pediatric doses are smaller. Two brands have been approved for the new age group. Pfizer is a three-dose series and Moderna is two doses. Safety protocols will be the same as with other age groups, including a post-vaccine observation period while watching for anaphylactic reactions.

Dr. Black, a mother of two young children, said she is thrilled to begin offering vaccines to the youngest in our communities. She said theyve worked on the backend to make sure they have the electronic medical records and staff to run their clinic spaces.

As you can imagine the children in the 6 months to 4-year age range, its really important to give the vaccine in as comfortable an environment as possible, Black said. Often one where the parents can be involved in helping to calm or soothe the child.

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Some parents are wondering why, nearly a year since the first COVID-19 vaccines for adults got federal approval, it took this long to get them for children younger than 5.

Health clinics in Oregon anticipate receiving their first vaccine shipments for the youngest children in the next couple of weeks, according to health officials.

The Oregon Health Authority said the state currently has over 700,000 viable doses which they hope to get to vaccine providers around the state and into people's arms.

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Pediatric providers prepare to vaccinate Oregons youngest against COVID-19 - Oregon Public Broadcasting