COVID-19 Vaccines for Children 6 Months and Older Now Available in City of St. Louis

The City of St. Louis Department of Health is alerting parents and caregivers that the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has announced the agency will adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation for children down to 6 months of age to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

“Vaccination remains the best way to protect our families, communities, and schools from COVID-19,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “As someone who has lost family and friends to the virus, I made sure my family was fully vaccinated as soon as they could be. Make a plan to get your children vaccinated against COVID-19, and get fully vaccinated and boosted if you are not already.” 

Data from the CDC reveals that since the start of the pandemic there have been more than 2 million confirmed cases of COVID among children 6 months to 4 years of age and more than 200 deaths of children after contracting the illness. Numerous healthcare providers offering pediatric services in the City of St. Louis are offering the vaccine. 

“The Department of Health will focus on safety, familiarity and convenience during this phase of COVID-19 vaccination efforts for city residents,” says Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, director of health for the City of St. Louis. “We’ll be providing information weekly to residents on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and on our website sharing which of their trusted healthcare providers are offering the vaccines.” 

The Department of Health is encouraging parents and caregivers who don’t have a medical home for their children to consult one of the Federally Qualified Health Centers serving City residents. In alignment with health equity principles of the Department of Health, these providers will not only be ensuring equitable access to the vaccine but also can ensure access to overall medical care for residents beyond COVID-19. 

COVID-19 vaccinations will protect children from severe illness and disease; protect your family and members of the community by reducing transmission; and assist in maintaining in-person school, sports, extracurricular activities, and other social and recreation activities. 

Visit the City of St. Louis Department of Health COVID-19 Pediatric Vaccine website to find a healthcare provider offering COVID-19 pediatric vaccinations. Locations are also listed at MOStopsCovid.com, and Vaccines.gov will soon list sites on an interactive map where vaccines are available. The Department of Health recommends contacting the provider before arriving. You can also text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.