-based source of information about COVID-19 vaccines, including a VaccineFinder tool to identify a vaccination administration site near any location in the US. This site is managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC].
CDC Recommends Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 5 to 11 Years: Announces (11/02/21) endorsement by CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ [ACIP] recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. CDC now expands vaccine recommendations to about 28 million children in the United States in this age group, and allows providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible. CDC announced that distribution of pediatric vaccinations across the country started this week, with plans to scale up to full capacity starting the week of November 8th. Vaccines will be available at thousands of pediatric healthcare provider offices, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and more.
Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People: Updates (07/27/21) official CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States. Within this update, CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status!
COVID-19 Vaccine: Serves as a hub for official CDC information about vaccine data, information on how to get vaccinated, Q&A, as well as clinical and professional resources. CDC now recommends that people whose immune systems are compromised moderately to severely should receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after the initial 2 doses> Read the 8/13/21 CDC Statement.
Biden-Harris Administration Makes 100% Federal Medicaid Matching Funds Available for State Expenditures on Certain COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling Visits for Children and Youth: Announces (12/02/21) new requirement for states to cover COVID-19 vaccine counseling visits in which healthcare providers talk to families about the importance of kids’ vaccination, and establishes funding mechanism to cover costs for such visits. Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to over 40% of all children in the United States. This action will “help expand access to individualized medical advice in all communities and give families the support they need to engage with trusted community providers.”
COVID-19 Vaccines and Children: State Strategies to Increase Access and Uptake through Pediatric Providers: Identifies current challenges and state-level strategies to vaccinate children 5–11 years old through pediatric providers. The National Academy for State Health Policy reports that states are rapidly preparing to roll out the vaccine for younger children, addressing issues around equitable access, education, and partnerships. More new COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported among children in September 2021 than in any previous month. Current COVID-19 vaccination rates among adolescents ages 12–17 vary widely state-by-state, from more than 70% fully vaccinated in some states compared to less than 30% fully vaccinated in others. The recent slowing in uptake for the adolescent age group signals challenges as eligibility extends to the 28 million children who are ages 5–11 across the country.
20 Things to Know about COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids under 12: Provides responses from health care experts at University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital to questions below about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for younger kids. Click here to read additional questions and answers about COVID-19 vaccination that predated federal vaccine approval for children 5-11.
Strategies for Building Confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccines: Describes a variety of public engagement and communication strategies that can be implemented at the national, state, and local levels to change patterns of interaction with the public, address hesitancy about the vaccines, and build trust