LI doctors: Inundated with parents seeking COVID-19 shots for kids
U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot — doses that are one third of the amount given to teens and adults.
And on Thursday, health care providers said they were gearing up to administer thousands of vaccines to children in Nassau and Suffolk counties as quickly as possible, Newsday’s Bart Jones writes.
Dr. Kerry Fierstein, a pediatrician in Plainview, said one mother called her office in tears because she could not get an appointment immediately for her child.
“They want appointments today, tomorrow, and next week. They don’t want to be told they’re going to get an appointment two weeks from now or three weeks from now,” said Fierstein, who also heads Allied Physicians Group, a Melville-based partnership of 150 pediatric providers.
She said doctors in her group have already administered several hundred shots to patients 5 to 11, but parents of thousands more want it. The group is planning a mass vaccination event next weekend to try and meet demand.
Doctors on Long Island began administering the shots into young arms on Wednesday. One father pulled his two kids out of school to get them.
“I’m really happy that we were able to do it, and we’re finally, hopefully, taking that last step toward normalcy as a family where we are all protected from the virus,” said Robert Fisher, an attorney from Great Neck.
Plus: Wondering where you’ll be able to get the shot for kids? Check our guide for suggestions on where to book or look for appointments.
The map below shows vaccination rates across Long Island.
Search that map and a table to see vaccination rates in your community on our data page.
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Erin Serpico is an assistant web producer who joined Newsday in November 2018. Originally from New Jersey, she now covers community events and produces local content for newsday.com while also helping run the homepage.
