Vaccine Update for Children and City Workers

As of last week, the CDC recommended that children ages 5 to 11 years old be vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine. The pediatric vaccine is one-third of the adult dose and is distributed with smaller needles. Children will need a second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine three weeks after their first shot.

Although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, get sick from COVID-19, have both short and long-term health complications from COVID-19 and spread COVID-19 to others. Vaccinating young children can help protect them and others. To find out where to get a pediatric vaccine, check with your child’s healthcare provider or your local pharmacy. There are also many pop-up vaccine sites at schools across the city. Find a site here. And click here to read more on vaccines for children 5 years and older on the New York State website.  

Additionally, New York City reached an agreement with nine labor unions, including the group representing sanitation workers, on the NYC COVID-19 vaccine mandate for City workers. The agreement affirms the City’s right to place employees who refuse to get vaccinated for unpaid leave, sets a process for employees pursuing an exemption and ends litigation over the rules. Click here to read the agreements for more information.

Photo credit: Cleveland Clinic