Childhood COVID-19 Vaccinations Help Prevent Illness

The Monmouth County Regional Health Commission will be offering a children’s COVID-19 clinic on Saturday, March 5th from 9:00 am to 12 noon at 1540 W. Park Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724. Call 732-493-9520, ext. 107 for more information. For other clinics near you visit www.mcrhc.org.

On March 7th students will have an option to attend school unmasked. This is a good time to ensure that your child is protected from COVID-19 by visiting a free vaccine clinic near you. All COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.

As we know vaccinating vulnerable populations such as young children is just another way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from infecting people who are immunocompromised and loved ones.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control both recommend young adolescents not only get their second dose, but get a third dose to provide a broader and stronger protection against COVID-19 variants.  Children with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from the virus. Those who received a booster show less severe illness that requires hospitalization.

As with other childhood vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines stop the virus from multiplying in the body. It trains the immune system to make antibodies that fight the virus. What is important to know is that the vaccine is safe and effective in children ages 5 through 11. Clinical trials of the mRNA vaccine at Pfizer-BioNTech have met the Food and Drug Administration’s rigorous safety and efficacy standards. They continuously monitor data for potential adverse events and to determine inefficiencies.

If your child has a routine visit to the pediatrician, ask about the COVID-19 vaccine. It can be given the same day as other vaccines that prevent illness like the flu or meningitis.  The vaccine administered to children between ages 5 to 11 years has the same active ingredients as the one given to adults and teens, although the dosage is different. The dose varies by weight and age, which is also true for many other vaccines.

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The Monmouth County Regional Health Commission provides shared public health services to nineteen (17) towns: Allenhurst, Brielle, Deal, Fair Haven, Interlaken, Little Silver, Loch Arbour, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Ocean Township, Rumson, Sea Bright, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Tinton Falls, and West Long Branch.

Link to the MCRHC Press Release – Children’s covid vaccine March 2022 (pdf)