DC Health has announced that the District will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to children ages six months and older at COVID Centers in all eight wards beginning Tuesday, June 21. The announcement follows approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines. The Moderna vaccine, approved for 6 months to 5 years old, is two doses, and the Pfizer vaccine, approved for 6 months to 4 years old (a Pfizer vaccine has already been available to children 5 and older), is three doses.
The pediatric vaccines will be available at all District COVID Centers, health clinics, and doctors’ offices. The vaccine will also be available at select pharmacies for children three and up. DC Health recommends that all children between six months and four years old receive this vaccine as soon as possible, preferably through their primary care physician who can also provide other important childhood vaccinations.
The two doses of the Moderna vaccine will administered four weeks apart. The first two doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered three weeks apart with the third dose given eight weeks after the second dose. For example, if your child is six months to five years old and is vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine on June 21, they will receive their second and final dose on July 19. If your child is given the Pfizer vaccine on June 21, they will receive their second dose on July 12 and their third and final dose September 6.
Courtesy – DC Health and CDC
