Dr. Easterling, First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene joined NYCDOE Senior Deputy Chancellor Marisol Rosales for a discussion on COVID-19 vaccination. Frequently asked questions from parents provide the basis for this discussion.
Click to view on Parent University or on the DOE’s website under “Health and Wellness” (scroll down to view)
Vaccine Details for Children Ages 5 -11
People of all ages can get COVID-19. While COVID-19 is more dangerous for adults, children are still vulnerable. With more contagious variants of the virus, more young people are getting COVID-19 and being hospitalized. Some people also have long-lasting health problems after having COVID-19, such as difficulty breathing, muscle and joint pain, headaches and tiredness.
Getting children vaccinated also helps protect others, such as grandparents and relatives who have a medical condition that increases their risk for severe COVID-19. It even helps people in your community, since being vaccinated helps stop the spread of the virus.
The Pfizer vaccine is now approved and available for children 5-11 years old in NYC
- Children aged 5-17 must get Pfizer. It is the only FDA/CDC vaccine approved for children.
- The Pfizer vaccine is 2 doses, given 21 days apart, to be fully vaccinated
- The vaccine went through rigorous research, trials, and evaluation and is safe, free, and easily accessible in NYC.
- Everyone aged 5+ should get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible
- Even if a child (or their parent) had COVID-19, they should still get the vaccine because it helps protect them against infection, severe illness, or death from COVID-19.
- For more information about vaccines and children, families can go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine and see this FAQ.
- Parents or guardians can call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) with questions about the vaccine
- People should also talk to their health care provider with concerns or questions specific to their own medical situation.
Vaccine Access:
- Find a vaccine site near you at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX4-NYC
- You can search “Pfizer 5-11” under vaccine type for a site that administers to this age group
- City-run vaccine sites will offer vaccines for children aged 5+ starting November 3, and there will be temporary sites in over 1,000 schools starting on Monday, November 8, 2021. Sites at schools can be found on the DOE website.
- For City-run sites, including H+H hospitals, appointments and walk-ins will be honored.
- The City is working to ensure that health care providers, including pediatricians and pharmacies, across the City have access to vaccine supply for children. These providers will likely start coming online over the course of this week, check with your doctor, local pharmacy or nyc.gov/vaccinefinder.
Consent:
- Children must have a parent or guardian's consent to get the vaccine. Children 5-15 y/o must be accompanied by an adult when they receive the vaccine, and if the child is accompanied by an adult who is not the parent or guardian, written consent or verbal consent by phone from the parent or guardian must be obtained at the time of vaccination.
- For specific questions about school vaccinations, please discuss with your child's school
Incentives:
- The $100 individual incentive is available to children who get vaccinated. Children may use a parent's email address to redeem their visa gift card.
- Organizations participating in the $100 Vaccine Referral Bonus program (including PAs/PTAs) are also able to get the $100 incentive per child they refer to get vaccinated. See more information at nyc.gov/vaccineincentive
Resources:
- YouTube: Videos from NYC Health in ten languages
- Parent University: Live and pre-recorded classes on Covid-19 Vaccines. The courses are taught by experts from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and include updates about COVID-19 vaccines, as well as live question-and-answer sessions.
- NYCDOE website: Health and Safety in Our Schools
