Tower Health announced that, following the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization, Tower Health Medical Group Pediatrics – Wyomissing and Reading Hospital Children's Health Center are now offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for current patients ages six months through five years old by appointment. Parents and caregivers interested in scheduling appointments can do so by calling the office. Other Tower Health Medical Group offices will soon offer the vaccine. An updated list of practices offering the vaccine for this age group is available here.
Children in this age group will receive three doses of the Pfizer vaccine at a lower dose than adults and children ages five to 11 receive. Children under the age of five receiving the Pfizer vaccine will get three doses of 3 micrograms each, while children five to 11 receive two 10-microgram doses. The first two doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be given 21 days apart and the third dose at least two months after the second dose.
"Many parents with children under the age of five have anxiously been awaiting the approval of the COVID vaccine so they can provide additional protection for their children," said Olubunmi Ojikutu, MD, Chair, Department of Pediatrics at Reading Hospital. "With the approval for this age group, an additional 20 million individuals are now eligible to receive the vaccine. This is an important step to ensuring the health of our communities."
According to the clinical trial data there we no cases of myocarditis or pericarditis (inflammation or heart muscle) with the Pfizer vaccine.
Dr. Ojikutu continued, "As a parent, if you have questions about vaccinating your children, I encourage you to speak with your child's pediatrician to learn more about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. The CDC also has great information available on their website that I encourage everyone to review. We have seen the critical role the vaccine has played during the pandemic. As vaccinations rates went up, hospitalizations went down. Everyone is experiencing different levels of pandemic fatigue but together, through vaccination, social distancing, hand hygiene, we can make a difference on COVID in our community."
Parents and guardians interested in vaccinating their children are encouraged to call their child's pediatrician to schedule an appointment. Tower Health encourages community members to explore options for receiving the vaccine from other sources, including local pharmacies and community clinics. You can find vaccine distribution sites by searching vaccines.gov, texting a home zip code to 438829, or calling 1-800-232-0233.
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 697-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for four consecutive years (and moving up to America's 50 Best Hospitals in 2022) and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.