DHR Health is now offering vaccinations for children under five years old following authorization from the Food and Drug Administration last week.

At their vaccine clinic located at the Edinburg Activity Center, DHR Health is now administering Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses to children between 6 months and 4 years old in addition to children 5 years old and up.

The FDA authorized the emergency use of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19 in children as young as 6 months on June 17. The following day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a recommendation for the vaccine to be administered to children in that age group.

“Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nation’s fight against COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said in a statement. “We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can.”

Eliza Rice talks to her son David Rice, 3, after receiving a dose of Pfizer vaccine as children under 5 are immunized against COVID-19 at the Edinburg Activity Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

“I encourage parents and caregivers with questions to talk to their doctor, nurse, or local pharmacist to learn more about the benefits of vaccinations and the importance of protecting their children by getting them vaccinated,” she added.

An analysis of the Moderna vaccine conducted by the FDA found it was 50.6% effective against COVID among children 6 through 23 months of age and 36.8% effective among children 2 through 5 years of age.

In clinical trial participants 6 months through 5 years of age, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fever, and underarm or groin swelling/tenderness of lymph nodes in the same arm or thigh of injection.

Among trial participants 6 through 36 months, the most common side effects also included irritability/crying, sleepiness, and loss of appetite.

Nicolas Rice, 3, receives a vaccine from medical assistant Anna Jalomo as children under 5 are immunized against COVID-19 at the Edinburg Activity Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

For those 37 months through 5 years of age, other side effects included fatigue, headache, muscle ache, chills, nausea/vomiting and joint stiffness.

The clinic at DHR Health will continue to offer first, second, and third doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to individuals already eligible.

Fourth doses of the vaccine are available to people 50 or older. Those who are 12 years or older who are moderate to severely immunocompromised are also eligible for the fourth dose. It can be administered four months after the previous dose.

Anyone seeking the fourth dose at the DHR clinic will be required to provide their vaccine card.

Healthcare workers prepare vaccines for children under 5 and others against COVID-19 at the Edinburg Activity Center on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

DHR also offers Moderna booster shots for adults every Tuesday.

The clinic is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the activity center which is located at 123 E. Palm Drive in Edinburg. No registration is needed.

If residents have any questions or need a replacement vaccine card, they can call (956) 362-6843.