Where to get the COVID-19 vaccine for small children

Indianapolis, Indiana – Some parents report that it’s difficult for them to locate the COVID-19 vaccination for small children.

Since September, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised parents of children aged six months and up to get the revised COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, Vaccines.gov lists the places for vaccinations as of right now.

There is an ample supply of the vaccination, according to local health officials. For young children, the COVID-19 vaccine is available, though not everywhere. The Indiana Department of Health reports that this year’s distribution procedure is different.

Just like with the flu shot, the vaccine is ordered directly by the providers who are offering it; the providers are responsible for placing the order.

For children under three, COVID-19 immunization is not available in most pharmacies in central Indiana. The vaccine for small children is still being shipped to health departments. Some pediatricians offer the shot, while others do not.

Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, the state health agency advises parents to get in contact with their child’s pediatrician or local health departments.

According to the Fishers Health Department, vaccinations for insured patients were just received this week, and on October 23rd, immunizations for children will begin.

Josh Robinson, the assistant director of the Fishers Health Department, has been answering inquiries from the public and pointing them in the direction of the vaccination location in the interim.

“We obviously get a lot of phone calls – from residents and people around the Fishers community – because we have had a lot of success with the vaccines in the past. And we always direct them to area providers we know have it in stock. And also say to go to Vaccines.gov to help them get it. But we do get calls from individuals asking do ‘you have it yet?’ Or ‘where can I get it?’ So we just answer those as we can,” Robinson said.

There are locations in central Indiana where young children can get the shot. According to Ascension St. Vincent, children six months and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine at their Fishers pediatrician locations. They are seeing lots of parents bring in their children, and they have enough merchandise.

“Every day, I have families that are asking for and receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. I have been very pleased with the uptick in our clinic, said Dr. Evan Kreutzer, a pediatrician at Ascension St. Vincent. “I treat the new COVID booster like the flu vaccine. I think it is an important vaccine and we want everyone to get it, 6 months and older. It is new this fall, slightly changed from last year so it should be more effective against the current circulating strain.”

Approximately 10,000 babies a day become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Association of Immunization Managers, which speaks with CNN. However, only about 7,000 children under the age of four receive the dose each week.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard for Indiana states that less than 6% of children in the state under the age of five have received the most recent COVID-19 vaccination.

Little children can begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccination at the Fishers Health Department starting next week. Additionally, they stated that the health department will soon have the new RSV vaccine in addition to flu vaccines.