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On Wednesday, June 22, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS) announced it will be offering vaccines to children ages six months and older. The announcement follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency use authorization of both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines.

The Moderna vaccine, approved for ages 6 months to 5 years old, is two doses, and the Pfizer vaccine, approved for ages 6 months to 4 years old (a Pfizer vaccine has already been available to children 5 and older), is three doses. The pediatric vaccines will be available at numerous Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System hospitals and clinics.

“We continue to recognize the profound and encouraging truth that getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is safe, effective and the primary mechanism to combat this pandemic,” said Dr. Steven T. Gremillion, Chief Medical Officer of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. “In recent weeks, we’ve continued to see record-low hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19, despite a recent increase in cases, and I encourage parents to continue to protect their children and our community by vaccinating the youngest members of their families.”

COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized because of the virus. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, the effects of the virus are unpredictable. Clinical trials for both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for children six months and older have shown the vaccines to be safe and effective.

“We are hopeful that more children will receive the vaccine in the coming weeks and months — reducing the severity of COVID-19 infection and the risk of hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Michael Bolton, Pediatric Infectious Disease physician with Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health. “As you’re bringing the youngest members of your family in for their vaccinations, it’s a great time to get the entire family up-to-date — including boosters for anyone age 5 and up.”

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System continues to encourage vaccination for all people who are eligible.