COVID Numbers, Vaccines For Young Children

Oregon health officials gave an update on COVID numbers as well as the vaccines for young children. The FDA recently authorized COVID vaccines for children under the age of 5. The CDC’s authorization is expected soon. Oregon health officials held a press conference Friday to update the city on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

State epidemiologist and health officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger and Dr. Dawn Nolt, professor of pediatrics at the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine spoke at a press conference last week on the issue. They focused primarily on the planned rollout of COVID vaccines for young children ages 6 months to 5 years. 

The was news recently that the FDA authorized the 1st COVID-19 shots for infants, preschoolers. It authorized pediatric doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines last Friday morning. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention is expected to issue its own ruling very soon. State health officials also spoke about current COVID positive tests and cases, which were up slightly in comparison to last month. 

The CDC is expecting to give a greenlight for pediatric doses. The Western States Advisory Group will then give the go-ahead. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) officials previously said this could all happen relatively soon – allowing pediatric vaccination to begin in Oregon next week.

Oregon health officials are telling parents to prepare. Health officials were hopeful parents would consider getting the vaccine for their young children. OHA officials said Oregon is on track to receive about 86,800 pediatric doses in the coming weeks. This is considered by local experts to be enough to meet the projected demand.

There is the state’s online vaccine locator tool which OHA is urging Oregon parents to use. Parents may also contact their health care provider to see when doses will be available. Officials said that most parents will likely get vaccines for their children with their primary care physician.