Families can now schedule Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations for children age six months to four years by appointment at specific vaccine clinics.

The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization for this age group June 17. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed it June 18.

“Vaccines for children in this age group have been proven to help prevent symptomatic COVID-19 infection and severe illness,” said J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. “While children are less likely to be severely affected by COVID-19 than individuals in other age groups, some become very ill and need to be hospitalized. These latest vaccines allow us to protect some of our youngest children and keep them on track for a happy and healthy childhood.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine series is a three-shot regimen, with each dose being one-tenth the dose of the vaccine given to adults. Children receiving the vaccine series are given the first two doses three weeks apart and a third at least two months later.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is hosting appointment-only vaccine clinics for this specific age group at the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic - MacArthur Road.

The vaccines for this age group will also be available at most Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) Pediatrics practices.

During the clinics, children can receive their first, second or third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

There are two ways to schedule appointments at these clinics:

1. Go to MyLVHN, the health network’s patient portal:

Sign In or Sign Up. You will need proxy access to your child’s MyLVHN account to schedule through the patient portal. If you do not have proxy access, contact your child’s health care provider. If your child does not have an LVHN provider, call 888-402-LVHN (5846).

2. Call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Most side effects reported in this younger age group are mild and resolve completely within two days. They include: chills, decreased appetite, drowsiness, irritability, fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea or vomiting, pain, swelling and-or redness at the injection site.

It’s normal for a child to experience these side effects, but if you have questions, it is best to contact the child’s pediatrician.

Information: LVHN.org/vaccines