Kimberlin shares information about COVID vaccinations for children 5 and younger

The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC and other organizations that focus on the health of children all have recommended vaccinations for children age 6 months and older, Kimberlin says.

“That is the best way to protect a child from the potential really bad effects of COVID,” he explained.

Pediatricians and family practice doctors can provide the best advice for families wanting to vaccinate their child against COVID-19, according to Kimberlin.

“We only have 30-40% of children vaccinated that are 5 and over in our region of the country, so we have work to do,” Kimberlin said.

If you or your child or adolescent is eligible to receive a booster, they should get one, Kimberlin recommends — and that includes a second booster for eligible populations.

“To get to the booster, you’ve got to have the primary series, and that’s where I want parents of young children to focus right now,” he continued.

Full protection is better conferred by vaccine-induced immunity than it is by infection-induced immunity, Kimberlin says. And if your child has had COVID, like 75% of children in the country, combining that immunity with vaccination will protect them even further.

“You’ll have done everything you can to keep your child safe,” he explained.

Doses of the COVID vaccine are different for the youngest children as compared to older kids and adolescents, Kimberlin explains.

“Young children are not little adults, and therefore they require a different amount of the vaccine,” he said.