Washakie County Public Health holding COVID-19 vaccine clinic for children 6 months to 5 years old
June 30, 2022
WORLAND – Washakie County Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Heinemeyer informed the commissioners during the Washakie County Commissioner meeting Tuesday, June 21, that Washakie County Public Health had received a stock of vaccines for those 6 months old to 5 years old.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in a news release on their website on June 17 that they were authorizing the, “Emergency use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 to include use in children down to 6 months of age.”
According to the news release, the FDA amended the emergency use authorization’s (EUA) of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
Washakie County Public Health will only be administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to this age group. Heinemeyer said that Park County has the Pfizer vaccine available for those who are seeking it.
According to the FDA website, “The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a primary series of two doses, one month apart, to individuals 6 months through 17 years of age.”
Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said everyone ages 6 months and older should receive COVID-19 vaccines if they haven’t already. “I encourage Wyoming parents to choose vaccination for their children. We have certainly seen some children become very ill due to the virus and we also know they can spread COVID-19 to others who may be especially vulnerable to the virus and its effects.”
Scientists and medical experts completed a review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials of thousands of young children before recommending vaccines for them. Across the country, millions of older children and adults have been safely vaccinated.
Harrist noted children can receive other vaccines at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. Detailed information about COVID-19 vaccines for children, including questions and answers for parents about safety and potential side effects, is available from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html.
“As we move through this pandemic, including at this phase, staying up to date with vaccines remains the best way to reduce our vulnerability to this virus and its most serious effects,” Harrist said.
According to the EUA, common side effects include injection site reactions such as pain, tenderness and swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection or in the groin, redness and swelling. General side effects are fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, nausea and vomiting, fever, joint pain, irritability/crying, sleepiness and loss of appetite.
Washakie County Public Health will be holding a vaccine clinic on Thursday, June 30 from 3 to 4 p.m. Those interested in getting their children in for a vaccine should call ahead to schedule. Those with any additional questions should reach out to their child’s healthcare provider.
As for those above age 5, “Booster doses have become more important over time and are recommended for everyone ages 5 and older, with second booster doses recommended for everyone ages 50 and older,” Harrist said. “Those with certain health conditions that could affect their immunity should ask their healthcare provider whether they should receive additional or booster doses.”
Currently Washakie County has a vaccine rate of 43.65% for COVID. Children ages 5 to 11 show 10.75%, 12 to 17 21.94% and adults 18 and older 52.73%. According to the Wyoming Department of Health 77.63% of Washakie County seniors 65 and older have been fully vaccinated for Cody.