On July 20, 2022, Acting Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson and Acting Secretary of Human Services Meg Snead encouraged Pennsylvanians to vaccinate their children during a visit to the Dauphin County State Health Center.

The PA Department of Health (PDH), through the Bureau of Community Health Systems, operates a network of state health centers which support public health programs throughout the commonwealth.
Following the approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), vaccine providers across the state are now able to provide COVID-19 vaccinations for children six months and older, as well as adults. This approval offers three-dose Pfizer vaccine for children under five years old and a two-dose Moderna vaccine for children under six years old. Both vaccines are approved for children as young as six months.
The departments note that pharmacists across the state are only allowed to provide COVID-19 vaccines to children ages three and older, so parents seeking appointments for children under three should contact their pediatrician, family doctor or other qualified physicians. Parents can also visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider nearest them.

Pfizer’s vaccine requires three doses and is available for children under five and as young as six months. The vaccine uses three micrograms per shot, which is one-tenth of what is used in the Pfizer shot for adults. Children receiving the Pfizer series of shots, should receive the second dose three weeks after the first, and the third shot eight weeks after the second shot.
Moderna’s vaccine requires two doses and is available for children ages six months through five years. The second shot should be administered 28 days after the first dose. Moderna’s vaccine for children under six calls for 25 micrograms per shot, which is one-quarter of the dose given to adults.

To view the press release, which has more info on this story, click here.