On Saturday, June 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for kids as young as six months. That means millions of children under age 5 can start getting COVID vaccines this week.
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency use authorization for COVID vaccines for this same age group.
This expands eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children. Parents and caregivers can now get their young children vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, whichever is available. Both company's trials reported side effects similar to other populations.
Schedule Your Child's Vaccine
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt will offer vaccines for this age group on:
- Friday, June 24. Appointments are required and available between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday, June 25. Appointments are required and available between 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
You can schedule your child's vaccine online or by calling 615-936-5437. Vaccines will be given in the theater at the Children’s Hospital, 2200 Children’s Way in Nashville. The closest parking is in the South Garage. Learn more about the vaccines in this article from the VUMC Reporter.
Note: The event will not be vaccinating children age 5 and older. See information about COVID-19 vaccines for other ages.
The Role of VUMC Research
VUMC research has aided in approval of these COVID-19 vaccines for younger children. Learn more about the Vanderbilt Health studies in this article from the VUMC Reporter.