Today, Maryland officials announced the arrival of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses intended for children ages 5-11. The state ordered 180,000 doses altogether, with limited quantities arriving earlier this week. Health care providers may be able to administer doses as early as Friday, November 5th.
Under new federal and Maryland Department of Health (MDH) guidelines, up to 515,000 children in Maryland are now eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
According to the Baltimore Sun, “Recognizing the inequitable distribution in the early days of the adult vaccination effort, state and local officials said they want some doses directed to children most at-risk or with the most obstacles to getting a shot.”
Altogether, a delay is anticipated in eligible children receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Dr. Nilesh Kalayanaraman, Anne Arundel County health officer, is quoted in the Sun article, stating, “We anticipate it will take three, four weeks for vaccine to match the demand.”
Anne Arundel County has already begun preparations for administering the Pfizer vaccine to eligible children:
Marylanders attempting to find a vaccination site can do so at the following link: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine#locator
