 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. This rapid expert consultation from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [NASEM] asserts that people who are hesitant, reluctant, distrusting, or otherwise not motivated with respect to being vaccinated need resources, information, and support for making the vaccination decision that is right for them. Public engagement and effective communication through clear, transparent messaging will play a central role in building confidence in the COVID-19 vaccines.
School-Located Vaccination: School Nurse Planning Checklist: Identifies key considerations for school nurses when planning for school-located vaccinations, including for COVID-19 and for influenza. The National Association of School Nurses [NASN] and the Association of Immunization Managers [AIM] directed an environmental scan and roundtable discussions to inform this 3-page product.
Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine (07/27/21 update): Provides official CDC information and tips to help you know what to expect when you get vaccinated, what information your provider will give you, and resources you can use to monitor your health after you are vaccinated.
Most Children and All Teens Can Get COVID-19 Vaccines: Presents clear guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (11/04/21) supporting its recommendation that everyone ages 5 and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. Offers a table showing which vaccines are approved for people by age group (e.g. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only one authorized for children ages 5-11 and youngsters ages 12-17). States that the federal government is providing COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status. Provides links and toll-free phone number to find vaccination locations near any zip code.
FDA Authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use in Children 5 through 11 Years of Age: Announced emergency use authorization (10/29/21) of the Pfizer-BioNTech 