Vaccines Available for Children Under 5

We are pleased to share that children under age 5 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a step that fills in an important layer of protection for our students and community.

Children 6 months through 4 years old are now eligible for Pfizer’s primary three-shot series, while children 6 months through 5 years of age are eligible for Moderna’s two-shot series.

Health officials recommend you vaccinate your child, if eligible, for their protection and to protect others. Children under 5 years of age represent a small portion of COVID-19 cases. However, in some instances they can experience more serious complications. The Santa Cruz County Public Health Department recommends parents take children in this age group to their primary care provider so they may be vaccinated against COVID-19 and catch up on any other immunizations that may have been missed during the pandemic. Those without insurance may be eligible for Medi-Cal, and can learn more by visiting www.MyBenefitsCalWIN.org or calling 888-421-8080.

To answer questions about how and why to vaccinate, we are co-hosting two town halls alongside Santa Cruz County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Cal Gordon, via Zoom. Please join us for our English town hall 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, (register here) and at our Spanish town hall from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 6 (register here).