Vaccine Rollout for Children Under 5 Poses Logistical Hurdles

Strategic Insights -

Local officials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are preparing for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to children under 5, who are likely to be cleared for vaccination in the coming weeks. However, the rollout will be challenging due to the need for more doctors to enroll as vaccine providers, particularly pediatricians who can administer the vaccine to babies and toddlers. Pharmacies, which have played a significant role in the vaccine distribution process, can only vaccinate children 3 and up under federal rules. Public health leaders are trying to get more pediatricians signed up to give shots and plan for a rollout that must accommodate the youngest members of society.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 vaccine approval for children under 5 is expected to come as soon as March, making protection against the coronavirus available for all ages, save for newborns.
  • The vaccine's effectiveness in trials was lower than the vaccine for adults, but doctors recommend starting the first doses as soon as possible, with a third dose still pending study results.
  • The omicron surge brought higher infection rates among children than in previous surges, with over 3.5 million U.S. children infected in January alone, with children generally getting only mild cases of the virus.
  • Children under 5 who contract the virus can still transmit it to others, including immunocompromised classmates and high-risk adults, making vaccinating them key to protecting others.
  • Less than a third of Pennsylvania and New Jersey elementary schoolers have been vaccinated against COVID-19 since the shot became available three months ago.
  • Many pediatricians and family doctors are not signed up to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, with some citing the need for ultra-cold storage as a barrier, but now can be stored for several weeks without special equipment.
  • Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole stresses the importance of getting more pediatricians signed up to administer the vaccine and making it readily available, especially in neighborhoods with high poverty rates.
  • Equitable access to the vaccine is a concern, with nearly 20% of children under 5 living below the poverty line and more than half being people of color, for whom the pandemic has exacerbated historic inequities in healthcare.
  • A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that only about 3 in 10 parents nationwide plan to get their under-5-year-olds vaccinated right away.

Statistics:

  • 6 months old is the minimum age for Pfizer's two-dose vaccine for children under 5.
  • 3.5 million U.S. children were infected with the coronavirus in January 2022 alone.
  • 20% of children under 5 live below the poverty line.
  • More than half of children under 5 are people of color.
  • 3 in 10 parents nationwide plan to get their under-5-year-olds vaccinated right away.
  • 780 family medicine or pediatric practices are enrolled in the Pennsylvania Vaccines for Children program to administer COVID-19 shots.

Sources:

  • "Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole"
  • "U.S. children infected with the coronavirus in January 2022"
  • "Kaiser Family Foundation poll"
  • "Pennsylvania Department of Health"
  • "New Jersey health officials"
  • "Delaware health officials"
  • "The Philadelphia Inquirer"