COVID-19 Vaccines Are Now Available for West Virginian Children Ages 6 Months to 5 Years

June 22, 2022

Mountaineer News

CHARLESTON, WV - Deliveries of West Virginia's initial allotment of COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years are expected to be complete by next week, according to James Hoyer.

The final shipments of the state's 17,400-dose order should arrive by Wednesday, said Hoyer, head of the West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccines.

"We are seeing movement into the state of over 17,000 vaccines that we believe we will have in total by the 29th of June," he said. "Both manufacturers, Pfizer and Moderna, are ahead of schedule as far as delivery of vaccines.

Doses are now available to the youngest West Virginians through pharmacies, physician's offices, pediatrician's offices, local health departments, community health centers and hospitals, Hoyer said.

"Please remember, children ages 3 and younger cannot receive a vaccine from a pharmacy. They have to visit one of the other sites," he said

Moderna's vaccine is for children ages 6 months to 5 years old and is a two-shot series, while Pfizer's vaccine is for children ages 6 months to 4 years old and is a three-shot series, said State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad.

"We want to remind everyone that choosing vaccinations for our youngest age group in West Virginia is very important," she said. "Young people still get sick and they can end up in the hospital, so we encourage you to get vaccinated."

Even children who have previously had COVID-19 are encouraged to get vaccinated, Amjad said. "It could help reduce re-infections."

Parents with questions about COVID-19 vaccines for their children should talk to their child's primary health care provider.

"The vaccines are safe, and they have been approved by multiple advisory committees," Amjad said.

The results of a recent survey conducted by the state Joint Interagency Task Force showed that 21% of responding parents had a "really strong" interest in vaccinating their youngest children," Hoyer said. "There's a large portion of West Virginia parents that still want to understand from a trusted health care provider."

Only 19.5% of West Virignans ages 5 to 11 have been vaccinated so far according to data from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

On Wednesday morning, the DHHR reported there were 1,882 active COVID-19 cases statewide.

There were 187 COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide, including 22 patients in ICU units and five patients on ventilators. There was one pediatric COVID-19 patient.

There have been 7,018 deaths in West Virginia attributable to COVD-19 since the start of the pandemic.

West Virginians ages 6 months and older are recommended to get vaccinated against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Those 5 years and older should receive a booster shot when due.

Second booster shots are recommended for those age 50 and over who are 4 months or more from their first booster, as well as for younger individuals over 12 years old with serious and chronic health conditions that lead to being considered moderately to severely immunocompromised.

Visit the WV COVID-19 Vaccination Due Date Calculator, a free online tool that helps individuals figure out when they may be due for a COVID-19 shot, making it easier to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccination.

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, or to find a vaccine site, visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.