Wyoming Department of Health Recommends COVID-19 Vaccines for Infants and Young Children
Written by Caleb Nelson on June 20, 2022
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has expanded its recommendation for “safe, free, and effective,” to include children 6 months and older as part of vaccination efforts meant to help prevent COVID-19 infections and serious illness.
A doctor giving a child an injection at home.
Following authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently recommending the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children “aged 6 months through 4 years” with a “three-dose” series. Further, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is “also now recommended for children” with a “two-dose” series.
State health officer and state epidemiologist Dr. Alexia Harrist with the WDH says, “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.”
According to the WDH, 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 notes that children can receive other vaccines at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. Details for information about COVID-19 vaccines for children, which includes questions and answers for parents about safety and potential side effects, can be found on the CDC’s website.
Parents of newly eligible children are encouraged to “contact their local public health office or other approved COVID-19 vaccine provider” regarding the availability of appropriate vaccines. Currently, the authorized vaccines for young children are in the process of being ordered, shipped, and delivered to Wyoming locations.
“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 says.
“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 states. “Those with certain health conditions that could affect their immunity should ask their healthcare provider whether they should receive additional or booster doses.”
While it may take a short time for new information to be updated and fully available from all sources, convenient ways to find where to get COVID-19 vaccines include:
- Visit vaccines.gov or vacunas.gov online to search and find vaccine sites.
- Text your ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX) or 822862 (VACUNA) to find up to three nearby locations that have vaccines available.
- Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline at 1-800-232-0233 for phone-based help.
All COVID-19 vaccine doses, whether for children or adults, continue to be offered at no cost to those who receive them.
