Updates on COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children Ages 6 Months to 4 Years

Published on February 10, 2022

Not Available Yet – Food And Drug Administration Meeting on 2/15

Recent headlines about the coming availability of COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 6 months to 4 years of age have left many people confused as to whether these are available now (they aren’t) and when they will be.

The short answer is that the okay for an emergency use authorization (EUA) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for this age group is still pending from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA is set to discuss that EUA next Monday, February 15. But that’s only part of the process of making vaccinations available for children ages 6 months to 4 years old.

Once the FDA and the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBAC) approve the emergency use authorization, there may be an additional meeting with representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). These groups will review data and can then provide the next level of approval for the EUA. After that approval is received, each individual state must determine what its guidance will be concerning the new EUA. Once finalized, each state issues its statewide guidance, which must be followed by cities and counties.

City and county health departments like the UGPHD can preorder vaccines for this age group in anticipation of EUA approval, but we do not have a firm date as to when those vaccines will arrive. Once the vaccines for these younger children are ordered, it can take days or weeks to receive the vaccinations and get staff and facilities ready to begin administering vaccinations to them. For example, many facilities will bring on pediatric nurses and staff, who are specially trained to work with very young children, to help assist with administering vaccinations for them.

In the meantime, booster shots and vaccinations are still available in Wyandotte County for anyone ages 5 and older.

Former Kmart site (7836 State Avenue)

COVID vaccines available on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
COVID testing is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Both vaccines and testing are free, no appointment or insurance is required.

UG Public Health Department building (619 Ann Avenue)

COVID vaccines available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vaccinations by appointment only. Call 913-573-8855 to make an appointment.
COVID vaccinations are free of charge. No insurance is required.

Find the latest hours and more info at WycoVaccines.org. Find additional vaccine sites at vaccines.gov (or in Spanish vacunas.gov).

Community Calendar

Here are details on upcoming COVID-19 vaccination and testing events in our community:

A “Strikeout COVID” vaccination event for children ages 5-11 will be held at Gloria Willis Middle School, located at 1735 N 64 Terrace in KCK, on Wednesday, February 23^rd from 4-6 p.m. First and second doses are offered. The child’s parents and/or guardian must accompany them, and masks are required.
Another “Strikeout COVID” vaccination event will be held on Thursday, March 3 at Central Middle School, located at 925 Ivandale Street in KCK, from 4-6 p.m. First and second doses are offered. The child’s parents and/or guardian must accompany them, and masks are required.
Another vaccination clinic will be held for children ages 5-11 at Piper Creek Elementary School, located at 13021 Leavenworth Road in KCK on Wednesday, February 2 from 4-6 p.m.

Note: vaccines at these events are only available for children ages 5-11. To find vaccine sites for people ages 12 and older visit vaccines.gov.