When can youngest Kentuckians get COVID vaccine? Latest update following FDA approval

Though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two COVID-19 vaccines for children under age 5 Friday, parents and caregivers in Kentucky may have to wait a bit longer for their child to get the shot.

Federal regulators signed off on two varieties of the COVID-19 vaccine late this week, the Moderna and the Pfizer BioNTech jab — a long awaited move for those with children aged 6 months to 5 years. The recommendation process from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still underway, but expected to proceed this weekend, the Washington Post reported.

But Kentucky state health officials say it could be early July before parents and caregivers have wide access to the vaccine through their pediatrician.

“While FDA authorizations and CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in children under 5 years are occurring the week of June 13, it is likely that vaccination will not be widely available for these young children until early July as pediatrician offices and other vaccination locations adjust their policies and procedures to accommodate this new patient population,” Susan Dunlap, executive director for the Office of Public Affairs within the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, shared in an email to the Herald-Leader Friday.

“Additionally, for children under 3 years, vaccination may only be available through pediatric and other clinic locations since most pharmacies will not provide this service for this very young population,” she continued.

The approval for some of the youngest Americans comes more than a year and a half after the shot was approved for adults, back in December 2020, and months after emergency approval was granted for children ages 5 to 11.

Kentucky’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices is meeting Friday and Saturday to make recommendations for under 5 age group, according to Dunlap, which, if recommended by that panel in the CDC, could greenlight vaccinations for the age group by providers, including area health departments.

“Kentucky pediatric providers have already completed preorders for these vaccines, with an anticipated first shipment date of 6/22/2022,” Dunlap wrote in her email.

Area pharmacists will only be able to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 3 years and older; they will funnel the youngest to primary care and pediatricians offices.

The approval by the state and CDC will mean 246,000 more Kentuckians will be able to access the vaccine.

“Pediatric COVID-19 vaccination remains below the national average in Kentucky,” Dunlap’s email said. “Only 23% of Kentucky children 5-11 years of age and 49% of children 12-15 years of age have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine (compared to national averages of 29.4% and 59.7%, respectively).”

Vaccines in Lexington for children under age 5

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is set to begin administering the vaccine to the youngest Lexingtonians following the state and CDC approval.

The agency confirmed Thursday it would wait for that guidance before offering the vaccine at the weekly COVID-19 clinic, which runs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“We are closed Monday in observance of Juneteenth, so we wouldn’t have information until Tuesday at the earliest,” communications officer Kevin Hall told the Herald-Leader. “For children younger than 5, we have ordered the Moderna vaccine and expect to have plenty to meet the demand.”

Hall confirmed local demand for the vaccine has cooled in recently, with the health department averaging 20 to 25 vaccinations per week.

“We have not received many calls recently about the vaccine and believe most caregivers will likely reach out to their pediatric offices,” he wrote. “We will be able to provide the vaccine, though, to anyone who needs it.”

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This story was originally published June 17, 2022 at 1:54 PM.