Over 20K vaccine doses to be available to kids 5 and under in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Following the emergency use authorization for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday for children under 5 years old, the first order of vaccines for children 5 years old and under is expected to come to Rhode Island this week.

The Department of Health said 20,800 doses will be coming to Rhode Island this week, the maximum amount available for Rhode island’s population.

“Given the need to redistribute vaccines, we have been telling healthcare providers and parents to expect administration at most sites to start next week,” Joseph Wendelken, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Health, said.

“It’s great news that some of our youngest Rhode Islanders are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement Monday.

Across the country, about 18 million kids are now eligible to get vaccinated. Meaning every American citizen can now receive a COVID shot.

Moderna’s under-five vaccine is a two-dose shot, which will be administered one month apart. For Pfizer, the first two shots are three weeks apart, followed by a third dose eight weeks later.

The FDA said trials in children under five showed the immune response of children was comparable to the immune response of adults. However, parents have been split down the middle on if they will give their little ones the COVID vaccine.

Another order will be placed in the last week of June.