COVID-19 Vaccine Approved for Children Ages 5-11

Patients and Families,

Please be advised that the COVID-19 Vaccine has been approved for children ages 5-11. At this time, Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) will NOT be a COVID-19 Vaccine location.

PSV’s parent organization –Inova– will be running weekend vaccination clinics at the Inova Center for Personalized Health. For additional information, and to book an appointment, please visit Inova’s website here.  

Parents may also visit https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ or https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/ to locate other community resources. 

Dear PSV Patients and Families,

As you know the guidelines for maximizing vaccine-induced protection against COVID are evolving based on scientific data. At present, the CDC and FDA  have recommended COVID-19 booster shots for immunocompromised patients and anticipate booster vaccinations will begin for all Americans,  8 months after initial vaccination, sometime in late September.  At this time, Pediatric Specialists of Virginia (PSV) will not be administering booster shots, but please visit the Virginia Vaccination Finder website to find and/or inquire about obtaining a COVID-19 booster shot. 

We will continue to monitor the science and guidelines, and update you on the best ways to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community against COVID-19. 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

Stay safe,

PSV

As COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available to children, many families may have some questions regarding their child with a rheumatic disease, immunomodulatory medication, and vaccination timing. Some parents may question the safety of the vaccine and if they need to hold any medications around the time of the vaccine.

According to the American College of Rheumatology, there is no direct evidence about mRNA COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy in RMD patients. There is no reason to expect potential vaccine harms will outweigh COVID-19 vaccine benefits in RMD patients.

For more guidance on about medication management and COVID-19 vaccine timing, please click here.

For more information about the COVID-19 Vaccine please visit the CDC website.

For COVID-19 vaccine registration, please visit the Virginia Department of Health website. 

PSV Parents and Families,

If you have a child with a severe chronic medical condition OR intellectual or developmental disability requiring a high level of daily care, you are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the Phase 1A Healthcare Workers category.

The list of approved medical conditions is routinely updated. To view the current CDC list please visit Certain Medical Conditions and Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness | CDC.

Please note that Pediatric Specialists of Virginia is NOT a COVID-19 vaccine site. If you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and live/work in the Fairfax Health District, please visit COVID-19 Vaccination Registration | Health (fairfaxcounty.gov) to schedule your appointment.

For more information and helpful links, please click here. 

At Pediatric Specialists of Virginia, we are strongly encouraging our staff, patients/families, and the community to take the COVID-19 vaccine when their time comes. However, please be advised that we are NOT administering the vaccine at any of our clinics/locations.

Please contact the Virginia Department of Health for information on when and how to register for the vaccine.

-PSV