INDIANAPOLIS — Children ages 5-11 are now eligible for a booster dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine in Indiana.
This comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention authorized the booster shot this week.
The Indiana Department of Health told vaccine providers they can start administering the booster dose to children in the age group at least five months after their last dose.
Dr. Christopher Belcher, Infection Prevention Medical Director at Ascension St. Vincent, says the CDC authorization is going to make an impact.
"Children still do get COVID; it does affect their lives. In some cases it can be that it just makes them sick and miserable, but there are complications from COVID ... and there are still problems with post COVID," Belcher said.
Belcher says COVID is still out in the community and very easy to catch. He's encouraging people to go ahead and get a booster.
MORE: Full coronavirus coverage from WRTV
"A lot of the pediatric offices do have the vaccine it in stock. It's also a good time to make sure your kid is up to date on all of the other vaccines. During the lockdown time. a lot of kids missed visits and are behind on their vaccines," Belcher said.
To schedule an appointment to get the booster dose or find a vaccination site, you can visit ourshot.in.gov or call 211.
WRTV reporter Rachael Wilkerson contributed to this report.
-
Precautionary boil order issued for two businesses in Bloomington
The city of Bloomington issued a precautionary boil order for two addresses due to a service line strike on Tuesday.
Bob Ross painting sells for $320k at auction
"Mountain Summit," a painting done by Bob Ross during Season 13 of his show "The Joy of Painting," sold for $320,000 at auction on Tuesday.
Serena Williams loses in her 1st singles match in nearly 4 years
Serena Williams showed plenty of what made her a 23-time Grand Slam tennis champion in her first professional singles match in nearly four years on Tuesday.
LeBron James not returning to Lakers, plans to play 24th season elsewhere
LeBron James is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. He has told the Lakers that his eight-year run with them is over and that he'll play a record-extending 24th NBA season elsewhere.
