New York: NYC Health + Hospitals Thursday administered the first Covid-19 vaccines for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The city’s public health care system will offer Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for children under the age of 5, and as young as 6 months, in the pediatric practices at all of its 11 hospitals.
“The next step towards a return to normalcy is around the corner for our youngest New Yorkers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “I encourage everyone to get their child vaccinated now that this moment has arrived to keep our children safe and healthy.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals has already administered more than 1.75 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and we are proud to now offer this vital protection against serious illness and death to our youngest New Yorkers,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD.
Dr. Hannah Jackson’s 9-month-old daughter was among the first babies to receive the vaccine Thursday. “We thought a lot about this, but in the end, the decision for us was really easy,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff in the Office of Ambulatory Care Hannah Jackson, MD, MPH, whose 9-month-old daughter was among the first babies to receive the vaccine today at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
NYC Health + Hospitals patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment for their child’s vaccine by calling their pediatrician’s practice directly. Anyone who is not an NYC Health + Hospitals patient can use the City’s Vaccine Finder or call 877-VAX-4NYC (877-829-4692) to schedule an appointment at other locations.
