Updated: COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 approved in California: Here's what we know

UPDATE: California Department of Public Health officials announced COVID-19 vaccines for young children received final emergency approvals Sunday and said the state is ready to begin shots immediately. Some sites in Ventura County are still awaiting orders of the vaccines and expect to be ready in the next few days.

People can make appointments at myturn.ca.gov or by calling 1-833-422-4255. Parents are advised to contact their pediatricians about the availability of vaccines though some offices may be closed for the Juneteenth holiday Monday.

If COVID-19 vaccinations for young children become available in Ventura County early this week as expected, Dr. Rachel Stern will cart her toddler son to a pediatrician's office for the first dose.

"I’m in the group of parents who have just been waiting with bated breath for this to happen," Stern said. "I’m really excited about having a tool to protect him other than masks and keeping him at home."

FDA officials announced their emergency approval Friday of a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children age 6 months to 5 years and Moderna's vaccine for age 6 months to 6 years. The vaccinations could be available nationwide by Tuesday pending further approvals.

To Stern, a physician who has led COVID-19 efforts in the Ventura County Health Care Agency's clinic system, the shots are like car seats. They don't eliminate the risks of serious harm but reduce them.

Tori Diorio of Ventura is among the many parents who aren't as eager. She said she'll wait on vaccinations for her kids, age 3 and 5. She isn't convinced vaccinations for a virus that rarely causes severe illness in children are worth the risk.

"I feel like that if they get COVID, they'll recover," she said.

What still needs to happen?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed the FDA's approval by authorizing use of the vaccines on Saturday. The shots were set to undergo another review by a western states work group of scientists before California leaders give the final say.

State public health leaders have not specified when vaccinations would begin if final approvals come. Federal authorities have already allowed providers to pre-order vaccines and have said shots could begin almost immediately.

Who will provide the shots?

Vaccinations are expected to be available in many clinics and doctor's offices. County health officials said people should contact their pediatricians.

The shots will also be available as soon as supplies arrive at two public health clinics in Oxnard. Appointments are recommended though some walk-ins will be available.

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The state's MyTurn vaccination appointment site is expected to be updated. People can also make appointments by calling 1-833-422-4255.

CVS officials said Friday they plan to provide vaccinations at many of their Minute Clinics to children 18 months and older.

Some pharmacies will likely inoculate children 3 and older, said Jeff Goad, a pharmacy professor at Chapman University in Orange County. Vaccines are injected into the thighs of younger children.

What are the side effects?

Both vaccines appear to be safe, according to clinical study findings. Short-term side effects such as fever and fatigue are fairly common but there has been no evidence of the more serious side effects seen rarely in adults, namely severe allergic reactions and myocarditis, a swelling of the heart muscle.

Like adults, young children generally had more side effects after a second dose. If they had previously been infected with COVID-19, they felt more effects from the first dose and appeared to have greater protection against the virus.

What are the differences?

Some health officials caution parents against comparing the two vaccines because they have not been studied side-by-side but in separate clinical studies.

The Moderna vaccine involves two doses given one month apart. Children with compromised immunities may require a third dose after another month.

The Pfizer vaccine involves three doses and may take longer to provide protection. The first two doses are given three weeks apart. The final dose comes two months later.

What are the benefits?

As with adults, the vaccines don't eliminate the chance of infection but rather reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, according to FDA findings.

"Everyone wants a light switch to make it turn off and go away and it doesn’t work that way," said Dr. Carey Chronis, a Ventura pediatrician.

Should families wait?

Like parents, pediatricians are divided. Chronis, who is involved with ongoing clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine, said the chances of side effects like fever and body aches appear lower than expected. He also said shots can reduce the chance of severe inflammation that can trigger severe illness and heart problems.

Chronis recommends the shots.

Dr. Ken Saul, a Thousand Oaks pediatrician, said he supports the approval of the vaccines because parents should have the option. But he's advising his daughters to wait before getting their kids vaccinated "to see how the rollout goes."

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Saul said that even without vaccines, the chance of severe illness in young kids is very small.

Some parents may wait for protection specifically designed for the omicron variant and subvariants. Goad, the pharmacy professor, said future vaccines for children will likely come as boosters taken after the primary shots, bringing more delays for people who wait now.

"With all the unknowns out there, it is better to protect now," he said.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.

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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 5 could be available any day