Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
“Ochsner Heath continues to follow guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) when it comes to COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and distribution. Ochsner continues to encourage all individuals who meet the age criteria for eligibility to get vaccinated. To date, Ochsner Health has administered more than 570,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses in Louisiana.
On Wednesday, November 3, the LDH approved the expanded use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 – 11, following FDA and CDC approval. The results of the Pfizer trial in the 5-to-11-year-old age group show the vaccine is safe and that it generates a “robust” antibody response in children given a two-dose regimen of 10 micrograms each – a third of the dose for individuals 12 and above.
The increase in pediatric cases and pediatric hospitalizations during the fourth surge of COVID-19 underscored how vulnerable the children of Louisiana are to this highly contagious and deadly virus. We need to protect our children. Expanding the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine to younger individuals ages 5 – 11 is a critical step forward.
Large-scale vaccination of our community will significantly help curb the spread of COVID-19, especially when combined with other recommendations from the CDC, which have included masking, social distancing and quarantining, when appropriate. These public health measures safeguard the safety and wellbeing of every child in Louisiana – at home, at school and at play.
As soon as Ochsner has the vaccines readily available, we plan to start opening appointments at our pediatric clinics. Once scheduling is live we will inform patients and community members that they can visit www.myochsner.org or call 1-844-888-2772 to schedule. Because we know families need flexibility, we are also planning after-work hours and some weekend availability for eligible school-age children to receive their shot. At all of our vaccination locations, children under the age of 18 must have parent or guardian consent before getting the vaccination.
We will be in close communication with the community about our vaccination plans for children ages 5 to 11 throughout this process.”
- William “Billy” Lennarz, MD, FAAP, MMM, System Chair of Pediatrics, Ochsner Hospital for Children
About Ochsner Health
Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit committed to giving back to the communities it serves through preventative screenings, health and wellness resources and partnerships with innovative organizations that share our vision. Ochsner Health healed more than 900,000 people from across the globe in 2020, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named both the top hospital and the top children’s hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report. As Louisiana’s leading healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in new technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner's team of more than 32,000 employees and 4,500 providers are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region. To learn more about Ochsner Health, please visit www.ochsner.org. To transform your health, please visit www.ochsner.org/healthyyou.
