Vaccine

Children and adolescents can get sick from COVID-19 and they can infect others. And while, in general, their cases tend to be less severe, children have developed serious complications. According to the CDC, COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalization, death, Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and long-term complications, such as “long COVID,” in which symptoms can linger for months. In Kern County, we have had 138 hospitalizations among those under 18 years of age, and 107 hospitalizations among those aged 5 to 17 years due to COVID-19. Also, we have had 21 cases of MIS-C identified, with 57% of those cases being admitted to the ICU.

The benefits of having your 5 years and older student vaccinated are many:

• No need to quarantine if exposed. Kids won’t have to spend time away from school, sports or extracurriculars, unless they have symptoms or test positive.
• Protect those around them — friends, teachers, parents, and grandparents.
• Fully vaccinated friends can be together outside without a mask or social distancing.
• The more people who are vaccinated, the closer we will get to herd immunity. This is a big step toward returning to our pre-Covid routines and activities.

Yes. COVID-19 vaccines are being offered at no cost.

• Register for a Pfizer vaccination through California’s MyTurn system found HERE.
• Pediatric vaccinations are expected to be available at the Kern County Fairgrounds, beginning Thursday, Nov. 4. The Fairgrounds clinic is open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday until the end of 2021. Appointments can be made through MyTurn, but are not required.
• Contact your child’s normal health care provider to see if they are offering COVID-19 vaccinations.
• There may be school districts throughout Kern County that choose to partner with Kern County Public Health or another provider to offer mobile vaccination clinics in the future.

No. Parental consent is required. The only exception is if they are an emancipated minor.

Being vaccinated against COVID-19 is NOT CURRENTLY a requirement to attend school. However, Gov. Newsom has announced that school children will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend in-person public and private schools in California in the first semester following the vaccine receiving full FDA approval. This will occur in two grades spans — grades 7-12 and grades K-6. It is anticipated that the earliest this requirement will take effect is July 1, 2022.

All individuals 12 and older receive the same dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Children 5 to 11 receive a dose that is one-third that of the dose administered to those 12 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is given in two doses, 21 days apart, for all individuals.

Your child’s health care provider is the best source to address your questions and concerns. The Public Health Department welcomes questions and has a nurse vaccination hotline 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm.  Call or text 661-677-4177.