Parents and legal guardians can schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments for children ages 6 months to 5 years at MCHS in Austin and Albert Lea

COVID-19 vaccine recommendations have been extended to include children aged 5 and under. Beginning Tuesday, July 5, parents and legal guardians may schedule appointments for children ages 6 months – 5 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin and Albert Lea.

COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in the U.S. have been expanded to include children ages 6 months to 5 years, following meetings of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18.

COVID-19 vaccines have been used under the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This includes studies in children 6 months to 5 years of age.

The new vaccine recommendations include children ages 6 months to 4 years of age can receive a three-dose primary series of the Pfizer vaccine or a two-dose primary series of the Moderna vaccine, and children who are 5 years old can receive a two-dose primary series of either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine.

Mayo Clinic recommends that everyone, including children, be vaccinated for COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine reduces the risk of getting infected with COVID-19, or of becoming seriously ill or dying if infected. The more children who are vaccinated, the harder it is for COVID-19 to spread and produce variants. This also keeps daycares and schools open and available.