Dear faculty, staff, students and residents:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has endorsed the recommendation that children 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. Information about scheduling your child’s vaccine at UT Health San Antonio will be disseminated tomorrow.
This now expands vaccine recommendations to about 28 million children in the United States in this age group, and allows providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible. Distribution of pediatric vaccinations across the country starts this week, with plans to scale up to full capacity starting the week of Nov. 8. Vaccines will be available at thousands of pediatric health care provider offices, pharmacies, Federally Qualified Health Centers and more.
A parent, legal guardian or authorized representative must accompany the child throughout the vaccine appointment at UT Health San Antonio.
Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our community’s and our nation’s fight against the virus that causes COVID-19. We know San Antonio parents are eager to get their children vaccinated. We encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatricians, school nurses or local pharmacists to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated.
Tess Barton, MD, a UT Health San Antonio faculty member who is a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, addresses parents’ concerns regarding the vaccine, any possible side effects and any hesitancy parents may have in a number of local media interviews. I encourage you to review the links below to learn more.
From the UT Health San Antonio Newsroom:
- Ask the expert: Are COVID-19 vaccines safe for young children?
- FDA, CDC consider authorizing COVID vaccine for kids age 5-11
Other media outlets:
- KSAT 12: UT Health San Antonio pediatric infectious disease doctor talks COVID-19 vaccine for children
- FOX San Antonio: UT Health addresses COVID vaccine for young children
- Texas Standard: Ask a doctor: Answers to questions about kids and the COVID vaccine
- News 4 San Antonio: UT Health addresses COVID vaccine for young children
- KSAT 12: UT Health San Antonio doctor says data shows Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids is safe, effective
- KENS 5: Parents faced with decision to vaccinate their children as governmental approval nears of Pfizer vaccine for young kids
Respectfully,
Robert Leverence, MD
Chief Medical Officer, UT Health Physicians