This article appeared in Detroit Free Press. Read more here.
For Bryce, it’s one dose down and two to go.
The 3-year-old Royal Oak boy received the first dose of the three-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 4 years old Wednesday in his pediatrician’s office, Bloom Pediatrics in Birmingham.
“I know we’re all protected and doing our part to keep our community safe as well,” said his mom, Antonette Phelps.
Federal regulators authorized COVID-19 vaccines for the nation’s youngest last week.
Pfizer’s vaccine is for children ages 6 months to 4 years old and is a three-dose regimen. The first two doses are given three weeks apart and the third dose is administered at least two months after the second shot.
Moderna’s two-dose vaccine is for children ages 6 months through 5 years old, with the doses administered four weeks apart.
More than 500,000 Michigan kids now are eligible for the vaccine, said Chelsea Wuth, a spokesperson with the state health department. Doses were pre-ordered and will be available at local health departments, federally qualified health centers, doctor’s offices, hospitals and pharmacies.
Parents can check vaccines.gov to see which medical providers have received vaccines and their availability.
Oakland County Health Division’s north and south clinic offices were other locations offering first doses of the vaccines Wednesday. The Washtenaw County Health Department will start providing these Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by appointment starting Thursday.
Phelps said there were “a little bit of tears” when the needle went into Bryce’s leg, but he then sat up, gave his dad a hug, then gave his mom one, too, and was OK after accepting a lollipop. Later, he was eating an ice cream at home, Phelps said.
Phelps, her husband and 5-year-old son Luca all were vaccinated and boosted previously with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine that was authorized for their age groups. Phelps said Bryce returns July 14 for his second shot, then eight weeks later in September for his final dose, just ahead of preschool two days a week in the fall.
Phelps said their family’s life was not back to normal because they had one unvaccinated person in their household. She said they were “definitely ready to get it done” in getting Bryce vaccinated against COVID-19.