Public Health Offers COVID-19 Vaccines to Children Five Years and Older
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Comal County’s Public Health Deparment said today it is now administering free COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines for children five years of age and older.
They will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine three weeks after receiving their first shot.
To schedule a vaccine, call the department at 830-221-1150. Call volume is heavy and the county is asking residents to be patient when calling.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages all children to be vaccinated.
CDC Dosage and Administration Guidelines for Children
Adolescents ages 12 years and up receive the same dosage of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as adults.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages five through 11 has the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to adults and adolescents. However, children ages five through 11 cannot receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administered to adults and adolescents.
Children ages five through 11 years receive an age-appropriate dose that is one-third of the adult dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Smaller needles designed specifically for children are used.
Unlike many medications, COVID-19 vaccine dosage does not vary by patient weight but by age on the day of vaccination.
The CDC does not recommend giving a child a pain reliever before the vaccine.
Parents, guardians and children will be asked to stay at Public Health for 15 to 30 minutes after the vaccine is administered for observation.
