Old North News

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is getting ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccines that can be administered to children as young as 6 months old.

"We have never stopped working to ensure that vaccines are fast, fair and everywhere for North Carolinians,” Kody H. Kinsley, NCDHHS secretary, said in a WTVD report this week. “It is exciting that our best tool against COVID-19 — safe and effective vaccines — could soon be available to our youngest North Carolinians, and because of our preparation, on day one in all 100 counties." 

State officials said the vaccines are geared to children between 6 months and 5 years old. Emergency authorization could be granted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as soon as this weekend, opening the door for vaccines to be available as early as Monday.

Vaccines will be available from the more than 300 registered providers. They will be available at a provider's office for those younger than 3, while those 3 and older will be able to get them at a pharmacy. 

"Our youngest residents will have the opportunity to be protected from COVID-19 if the FDA and CDC move forward with authorizing and recommending vaccines,” Dr. Susan Kansagra, NCDHHS assistant secretary for Public Health and State health officer, said in the report. “We know parents are anxiously awaiting this decision, and we are working with providers to be ready to bring the protection of these safe and effective vaccines."