Currently, all of the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved for emergency use by the federal Food and Drug Administration, none allow for individuals under the age of 16 to get one. 

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf describes the challenges that younger kids have with COVID-19.

“They might have more mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. But just like anybody else, if they’re infected with the COVID-19 virus, they’re definitely able to share that virus with people who aren’t fully vaccinated, and most of the time very unknowingly.”   

Wolf says because of this, there could be more issues within that child’s household creating more positive cases of the virus. She encourages adults to keep those mitigation efforts in place for their children.

“Please still have your kids wear masks when they’re in crowds, have them wash their hands, ask them not to congregate with other people that aren’t vaccinated. I know that as kids get older and older that’s a real tough thing to do.” 

There might be some additional relief on the way as the FDA is considering approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be given to kids ages 12-16 soon.