Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
A media briefing featuring Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency was hosted by the Vaccinate All 58 and Stop the Spread COVID-19 public awareness campaigns, answered questions related to the rollout, efficacy, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals ages 5-11. Especially as the holidays approach, it’s more important than ever to ensure our families are vaccinated and our community is protected against this deadly virus.
California started vaccinating children ages 5-11 with 500 organizations across the state receiving their first shipments through next Monday,” read a joint statement from CA Director of Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly. The state was allocated 1.2 million pediatric doses from the federal government with adequate supply to vaccinate all newly eligible Californians becoming available in the coming weeks. The state has more than 4,000 locations ready to vaccinate children ages 5-11 as supply increases.
Dr. Mark Ghaly urged families to get the facts on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and take action to protect themselves and loved ones from COVID-19, especially as we head into the winter months. Parents can choose the environment that will work best for their child: a large vaccine clinic like where many adults got shots, a small traditional medical exam room, or their vehicle, in a drive-up appointment. It is safe and effective,” he said. “This is one more opportunity to protect our communities and our children, so please take it seriously.
Dr Ghaly said kids receive one-third of the standard dose of the mRNA shot given to adults: 10 micrograms versus 30 micrograms. Because of that, children can generally expect fewer side effects.