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WellSpan Health to begin scheduling
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children under age 5
YORK, PA (June 23, 2022) – WellSpan Health will begin scheduling appointments on
Friday for children ranging from ages 6 months to 5 years old to receive the
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This aligns with the latest guidance from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Pennsylvania Department
of Health, which recently announced their recommendation to expand access to
the vaccine to children under the age of 5.
“The COVID-19 vaccine has proven
to be safe and effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 among both
adults and children ages 5 and older, and we are excited that younger
children will now get the chance to receive the vaccine as well,” said Dr. Mark
Goedecker, vice president and chief medical officer, primary care service
line, WellSpan Health. “While children under 5 do typically have a lower risk
from COVID-19, there have recently been higher hospitalization rates among
these children compared to older children and adults. Expanding access to
this vaccine to those young children will hopefully go a long way in keeping
children here in South Central Pennsylvania and across the country from
getting and spreading the virus.”
Parents or guardians of children
ranging from ages 6 months to 5 years old will be able to schedule
appointments to receive the vaccine at some WellSpan Pediatric and WellSpan
Family Medicine practices. Children ages 5 to 11 are also able to receive the
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at these locations. You do not need to be a WellSpan
Health patient.
Parents or guardians are
currently able to schedule their children for an appointment by using MyWellSpan or by calling our hotline at
(855) 851-3641. Parents can also schedule an appointment at WellSpan.org/COVID19. Walk-in
appointments will not be available at this time.
On June 15, a Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) advisory committee recommended emergency use
authorization of a lower dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children
ages 6 months to 5 years. The CDC’s vaccine advisory committee announced on
Saturday their recommendation to make the vaccine available to those children
as well. The recommendation is for young children to receive three doses of
the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, each with one-tenth of the dosage of the adult
vaccine. The second dose is recommended to be administered three weeks after
the first dose, with the third dose then administered eight weeks later.
For more information on the
COVID-19 vaccine, visit WellSpan.org/COVID19.
About
WellSpan Health
WellSpan
Health’s vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of
comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our
continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in
value-based care, we encompass nearly 1,900 employed providers, 220
locations, eight award-winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health
organization serving South Central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. With a
team 20,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from
wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical
and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 2,600 aligned
physicians and advanced practice providers are dedicated to providing the
highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be
their healthiest.
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