×

Shots for tots: Ohio health chief touts benefits of COVID-19 vaccines for kids

Carter Giglio, 8, joined by service dog Barney of Hero Dogs, shows off the bandaid over his injection site after being vaccinated, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at Children's National Hospital in Washington. The U.S. enters a new phase Wednesday in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with shots now available to millions of elementary-age children in what health officials hailed as a major breakthrough after more than 18 months of illness, hospitalizations, deaths and disrupted education. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, called the impending vaccinations against COVID-19 of children between the ages of 5 and 11 “a long-awaited step that brings us ever closer to getting us through” the pandemic.

Vanderhoff said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s authorization of a kid-size dose of the vaccine will “protect these school-aged children from severe complications from COVID-19.”

The vaccinations now can be given to those ages 5 to 11.

There are about 997,570 Ohioans between those ages, according to the ODH, and about 28 million nationwide, according to the CDC.

The Trumbull Combined Health District has a pediatric COVID-19 vaccination clinic 1 to 2 p.m. today at its office, 176 Chestnut Ave. NE in Warren.

Vanderhoff said Wednesday more than 206,000 Ohioans under the age of 18 have had COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and more than 2,000 have been hospitalized since Jan. 1.

“While it remains true that children are less likely than adults to get severely ill from COVID-19, they most certainly can and do become seriously ill,” he said.

Vaccinations, he said, are “the best protection for all Ohioans, including youth.”

From Oct. 25 to Sunday, about 18 percent of all Ohioans who tested positive for COVID-19 were under the age of 18, he said.

The state has some juvenile vaccination doses and will have about 367,000 doses in total shortly, Vanderhoff said.

The state also Wednesday lowered the eligibility age for its Vax-2-School scholarship program to 5 years old.

The program will award $2 million in scholarships to those between the age of 5 and 25, including 150 $10,000 scholarships and five $100,000 scholarships. It was previously open to only those between 12 and 25, but the drawings were delayed in anticipation of the CDC approval for younger people.

Ohioans can register as soon as the first dose of the vaccine is administered with a Nov. 21 initial deadline. To register, go to ohiovax2school.com or call 833-427-5634.

There will be two drawings for the $10,000 prizes — 75 in each drawing — on Nov. 22 and 29.

If a person registers by Nov. 28, they’re eligible for the second drawing.

Also, the state will award the $100,000 scholarships daily Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.

While Nov. 28 is the deadline to be eligible for the five $100,000 scholarships, a person can apply by Dec. 1 to be eligible for the last two drawings.

The money comes from unused federal COVID-19 funds.

The state is trying to incentivize younger people to get vaccinated because fewer of them get the shots than the general population.

For example, 43.4 percent of those between the ages of 12 and 17 have been vaccinated compared to about 67 percent of those at least 18.

Also, it was announced Wednesday that Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran, were exposed to two staff memers who recently tested positive for COVID-19.

The DeWines are fully vaccinated and received boosters. They’ve tested negative and have no symptoms, but canceled scheduled appearances through Sunday and will be tested daily for the virus.

dskolnick@vindy.com

dskolnick@tribtoday.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today