NJ children begin to get first COVID vaccine shots. How to get an appointment – NorthJersey.com
Young children in New Jersey were slated to begin getting their first COVID vaccine shots on Wednesday less than 24 hours after federal regulators approved a two-shot regimen for 5 to 11-year-olds in an effort health officials hope will continue to drive down cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
Among the first was Tommy Landa, 10, who received his first shot at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus on Wednesday morning to applause from his parents and the hospital’s staff.
“The moment I got into my car, it hit me that everyone in my family is vaccinated,” said Tony Landa, Tommy’s father. “The relief and hope I feel is palpable.”
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The vaccine made by Pfizer is one-third the dose of the adult vaccine. It will be delivered in two shots at least three weeks apart. Shots are free.
Some providers began taking online appointments just hours after the Tuesday approval. They include:
The vaccine was nearly 91 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among children in clinical trials. Vaccine side effects were mild and similar to those seen in adults and with other vaccines recommended for children, officials at the Centers for Disease Control said upon approving the vaccine Tuesday night.
About 760,000 New Jersey children are now eligible for the vaccine.
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The state pre-ordered 203,800 pediatric doses and plans to ship them to 230 sites in all 21 counties.
This includes 65 primary care practices, 40 independent pharmacies, 37 county and municipal sites, 35 hospitals, 18 chain pharmacies, six urgent care facilities, and the Gloucester County megasite.
“Pfizer pediatric doses has been delivered to some sites and will continue to be delivered over this week and into next week,” said Donna Leusner, a Health Department spokeswoman.
Another resource is the Facebook page “New Jersey COVID Vaccine Info” run by volunteers looking to help people book appointments.
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A bigger rollout may come next week.
The Biden administration ordered enough doses to cover all 28 million American children in the age group. The administration’s distribution program will be “running at full strength” the week of Nov. 8, Presidential adviser Jeffrey Zients said Monday.
Children ages 5 to 10-years-old have become the predominant group testing positive for the virus in New Jersey with 93 cases per 100,000 residents for the week ending on Oct. 23., according to the latest statistics from the Health Department. The next most prominent age group was 11 to 13-year-olds at 87. Spot testing has increased at New Jersey schools beginning last month.
The vaccination approval comes as key COVID metrics like cases and hospitalizations began to fall last month in New Jersey and across the nation after a surge over the summer due to the highly contagious delta variant.
Demand may be high initially, but many parents are wary of getting their younger kids vaccinated.
A national poll released last week by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that only 27% of parents would get their 5- to 11-year-olds vaccinated right away, 33% will take a wait-a-see approach and 30% said they definitely would not let their children get the shots.
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New Jersey adolescents are not getting vaccinated at the rate health officials had hoped when they became eligible in May. Only 57% of 12- to 15-year-olds have gotten at least one shot.
The state prepared similarly for the rollout of COVID boosters, but so far has not seen high demand for the shots. About 20% of the 2.7 million eligible for boosters have gotten one.
Check back for updates.
This article contains information from USA Today
Scott Fallon has covered the COVID-19 pandemic since its onset in March 2020. To get unlimited access to the latest news about the pandemic’s impact on New Jersey, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: fallon@northjersey.com
Twitter: @newsfallon