Pediatrician's offices and retail pharmacies across Texas will receive about 1.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 once the Federal Drug Administration issues emergency use authorization of the shot, state health officials say.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said 814 COVID-19 vaccine providers in 120 counties would receive the doses in three waves of shipments, all of which will go out within nine days of authorization.
The other 134 counties in Texas had not yet placed an order as of Monday, Associate Commissioner of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Services
Imelda Garcia said.
There are about 2.9 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 in Texas. Saroj Rai, a senior scientific advisor to Texas DSHS, said trials have shown the vaccine to be 90% effective against COVID-19 in children.
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The pediatric vaccine is similar to the shot for those 12 and older in that it is a series of two shots given 21 days apart, Rai said. However, the pediatric dose is just one-third the amount that adults receive -- 10 micrograms as opposed to 30.
As for where to get the vaccine, Garcia said the state wants to take advantage all eligible providers to make the rollout process easy.
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"We are actively encouraging pediatricians that if they have not signed up as a COVID vaccine provider that they should enroll," said Garcia.
Garcia said the best place for parents to find out where to get their children vaccinated is to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine finder website.
"It's not only for my daughter's health and safety, but vaccinating her protects our loved ones," Garcia said.
