Hours after the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s low-dose COVID pediatric vaccine, the first injections were administered in Dallas County.
Big sister Aiden, age 8, held the hands of her six-year-old twin sister as they each received their first dose.
“Most of the time it just felt like a flu shot, like a little pinch,” Aiden said.
As one of the first to receive the pediatric vaccine, their parents said they were relieved.
“We had been waiting for them to be vaccinated as soon as possible,” said their father Brett Pinkus. “We’d like to be protected and get out there and live a normal life as soon as possible.”
Children aged 5-11 who receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine require two doses given three weeks apart, meaning children vaccinated on Veterans Day will be fully vaccinated by Christmas Eve.
“We are just relieved that we have all been vaccinated and happy that all the children can have them,” said their mother Rebecca Pinkus.
More than a million doses are already on their way to hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and health departments in Texas.
Unlike the early days of the vaccine rollout for adults, health leaders said there is enough vaccine for each child to receive a shot.
“When we think about what a really important role as a parent is, one of the things is keeping our kids safe,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. “Vaccine makes our children safer.”
Dallas County Health & Human Services is currently scheduling appointments to administer the pediatric doses. Denton County Public Health has also opened their vaccine portal so parents can make appointments.
To learn more about where to find a shot in North Texas, visit here.
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