BOSTON — The state on Sunday announced that Massachusetts children ages 6 months to 4 years old are now eligible to receive the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

 

The Pfizer vaccine consists of three pediatric doses and the Moderna vaccine consists of two pediatric doses. Appointments will be available for booking beginning Tuesday, June 21, with additional locations and appointments expected to come online in the following days. Vaccines are already available to those 5 years and older.  

 

The Baker-Polito administration expects there to be more than 400 locations for children to receive a vaccine in the coming weeks.

 

"We know parents and families have been waiting for this, and we are pleased to have this last age group approved for the COVID-19 vaccine," said Dr. Estevan Garcia, a pediatrician, and chief medical officer at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. "The vaccine for this age group has been rigorously tested and we encourage parents to add this vaccine to the list of critical vaccinations their children should receive. We urge parents to reach out to their child's health-care provider with any questions they may have."

 

The COVID-19 vaccine has shown to be safe, effective, and protective against serious illness or death, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Controls. The administration is committed to ensuring families have convenient access to free, safe, and effective vaccines. Children 6 months and older may receive a vaccination at locations such as their pediatricians' offices, community health centers, state-supported vaccination sites, mobile clinics and some pharmacy settings depending on the pharmacy and the child's age. 

 

Vaccinations for adults have been available for more than a year and for children ages 5 to 11 since last November. Nearly 15 million vaccine doses have been administered in the state since they became available in late 2020; about 61 percent of children in Berkshire County between ages 5 and 11 have received at least one dose.

 

Massachusetts is a national leader in vaccination rates with over 84 percent of eligible residents fully vaccinated and over half of adults boosted.

 

How to find a pediatric COVID-19 vaccination appointment:

The vaccine is free, and you do not need insurance or an ID to be vaccinated. Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccination, including FAQs, can be found here: mass.gov/COVIDvaccine.