First kids under 5 get COVID-19 shots in Inland Empire

The first coronavirus vaccine shots for children under age 5 began in the Inland Empire on Wednesday, June 22.

Also, kids between 6 months and 5 years old can get shots from San Bernardino County starting Friday, June 24, and beginning Tuesday, June 28, from Riverside County’s health department, officials said Wednesday.

Los Angeles County health officials began administering doses more widely to kids Wednesday.

After the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended and approved the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for the new age group, Kaiser Permanente Southern California began the shots Wednesday, officials said.

Kaiser Permanente Southern California began offering the Pfizer vaccine to young children at all 15 of its medical centers and some pediatrics departments.

The Moderna vaccine will be available at Kaiser centers starting Tuesday, June 28.

Parents can book appointments for these pediatric vaccines online, or by calling 833-574-2273.

Riverside County public health spokesperson Jose Arballo Jr. said by email that the county will begin shots for the new group at two locations, in Riverside and Hemet, on Tuesday. No further details were available. Appointments can be made on Riverside County’s website.

San Bernardino County spokesperson David Wert said the county received a shipment of the vaccine Wednesday. Beginning Friday, its public health department will give Pfizer vaccines to the newly eligible group at county health centers, Wert said by email. Providers will begin receiving orders of Moderna next week.

The county’s COVID-19 pediatric webpage will be updated and residents can book appointments online or by calling 1-800-722-4777. If parents or caregivers prefer the Moderna shot, Wert said, the county recommends visiting myturn.ca.gov or consulting with their physician.

A Kaiser Permanente news release states that children’s health is not as heavily impacted by COVID-19, but they “can still get severely sick, die, and easily spread the virus to members of their families, even if they are asymptomatic. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect children’s health and our communities as a whole.”