Vaccination Frustrations: Parents on the Hunt for Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine

One Month On The State of Pediatric COVID Vaccines

One month later What’s the status of pediatric COVID vaccines?

Oct. 13, 2023—Tick-tock, tick-tock! A month has passed since the CDC recommended the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone aged 6 months and older. They even promised that the vaccines would be readily available at your go-to vaccine spots. But hold on a minute, where are these vaccines? Why are parents still on a wild goose chase for their little ones? Talk about frustration!

Take Christina Sellers, for example. This supermom from Atlanta had to move to Lansing, MI, with her family. Amidst all the packing and preparations, she wanted to make sure that everyone got their updated COVID vaccines, including their 4-year-old son. You see, Christina is immunocompromised, which makes staying up to date with vaccinations essential for her family’s health.

Christina and her husband managed to get their shots prior to the big move, but they’re still waiting for their son’s turn. She reached out to every possible place in Atlanta—pharmacies, health departments, and even their pediatrician’s office—but no luck. The hunt continued when they arrived in Lansing, with Christina calling every drugstore, health system, and clinic in the area. She even offered to drive 100 miles (approximately an hour and a half) just to secure the vaccine as soon as possible. Talk about determination!

Finally, the Ingham County Public Health Department booked an appointment for her son on Oct. 20. Christina’s not giving up though—she’s persistently trying to find an earlier slot for her little one. Her story is not unique. Christina and about 7,000 other parents are part of the Facebook group “Protect Their Future,” where they advocate for access to childhood vaccines and share information on vaccine availability. On X (formerly known as Twitter), frustrated users express their disappointment with the inaccurate and outdated information about vaccine availability on Vaccines.gov.

The Rising Concern

Children are bearing the brunt of COVID-19 hospitalizations. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of children under 18 admitted to hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 rose significantly from mid-June to early September. Shockingly, more than half of these children have no underlying health conditions, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Overcoming Obstacles

Public health officials and vaccine manufacturers acknowledge the challenges, especially in obtaining the vaccine for the youngest children. But don’t worry, there are solutions in progress or already in place. Here are a few:

  • Supplies: The adult vaccines were given priority initially, but fear not, more pediatric doses are on the way. Pfizer BioNTech has already shipped over 18 million doses of their 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine, including more than 1.5 million pediatric doses for children under 12. They’re continuing to meet the demand, with millions of additional doses being delivered weekly. Moderna, on the other hand, has completed shipments to the CDC and continues to distribute to retail pharmacies and points of care.

  • Mixing and matching: The CDC advises parents to stick with one vaccine manufacturer for their children’s vaccines if possible. However, CDC Director Mandy Cohen assures us that getting an updated vaccine from a different manufacturer is perfectly acceptable for children who completed the primary series with one manufacturer.

  • Pharmacy availability and age cutoffs: Good news! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has allowed pharmacists in all states to administer COVID vaccines to children as young as 3 years old. Although policies vary among pharmacies, CVS, for example, offers pediatric COVID-19 vaccine appointments online for children aged 5 and up. Those 18 months and older can get vaccinated at CVS’ MinuteClinic, staffed with experienced providers well-versed in giving vaccinations to younger children.

  • Doctors’ buy-in: Some pediatricians hesitated to order the vaccines due to financial concerns and uncertainty about patient demand. However, Pfizer’s 100% return policy for unused vaccines under 5 years old and Moderna’s provision of single-dose vials have eased concerns among pediatricians. We’re seeing increased willingness from doctors to order the vaccine.

The Quest Continues

Parents are anxiously waiting for improved availability of the vaccine. Some have traveled long distances only to be turned away due to limited supply, while others have faced outdated information on vaccine websites. Fatima Khan, a parent and co-founder of Protect Their Future, mentioned families driving for hours, just to be told the vaccine is unavailable. Even those in bustling Manhattan encountered difficulties in finding the vaccine.

Lynn Fingerhut, a determined parent from Peoria, IL, faced her fair share of challenges. After multiple phone calls and hours spent on hold, she managed to secure vaccines for herself, her husband, and her 14-year-old son, but struggled to find a dose for her 10-year-old. Persistence paid off when she walked into a Kroger pharmacy in East Peoria and scored the vaccine for her son.

Christina, the nurse practitioner and mom to the 4-year-old vaccine seeker, hopes for similar success. She humorously declared, “If I could get my hands on the shot, I’d stick my own kid.”

Join the Conversation

It’s evident that parents across the nation are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of access to pediatric COVID-19 vaccines. Have you experienced any difficulties in finding the vaccine for your child? Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below! Let’s support each other and navigate this vaccine quest together.