Cohen Children’s begins COVID vaccinations for youngsters

Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park began vaccinating kids aged 12 to 15 this week, the youngest population yet in the race toward herd immunity against coronavirus.

The latest vaccine rollout came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state’s Department of Health approved its use. New York has already vaccinated 50 percent of adults 18-and-older, and officials are hoping that adolescents will now play an important role in ending the pandemic.

Since December, Northwell Health has delivered more than 450,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The health system has also treated more COVID cases, more than 200,000 patients over a 14-month span, than any other health system.

“These vaccines are 100 percent effective against hospitalizations and deaths,” said Dr. Sophia Jan, chief of general pediatrics at Cohen Children’s. “Three things to remember: This will be the first time we’ll feel comfortable hugging, kissing and visiting our grandparents. Secondly, it allows our kids to go back to school in a normal way. And finally, the vaccine will be required for some travel and events.”

To book a vaccine appointment for adolescents, 12-and-older, search for Pfizer locations at: https://www.northwell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine/locations