In-Depth: Rochester pediatrician on COVID vaccine for kids under 5

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – Some of the first COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of five are here in Rochester.

This age group is the last age group to finally be able to get the vaccine.

The CDC gave final approval to both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines for kids over the weekend.

“I received my first shipment of Moderna vaccine and supplies today,” Dr Ed Lewis of Lewis Pediatrics said. “I haven’t gotten the Pfizer vaccine yet, but that should be coming.”

Children as young as six months old are now eligible to get the vaccine.

Dr. Ed Lewis, with Lewis Pediatrics, was one of the first to get the doses in Rochester.

“Logistically with it being summertime, it being school camp physical, and our schedules being filled with well-child visits, it’s hard to find the extra time,” Lewis said.

When parents can expect appointments, how they can sign up, and the rollout process as a whole Dr. Lewis said they are still planning.

“I’m trying to find the time in the schedule, the fact that we’re going to have two different vaccines. So we have to book certain days for Moderna, certain days for Pfizer,” Lewis said. “The vaccine comes in a ten-dose vile. So we don’t want to waste it. So if it was in a single dose vile, we could give it at well-visits in and work that way.”

Lewis said people will have to be a little patient when trying to get the vaccine in pediatrician and family practitioner offices.

“So the Pfizer vaccine in kids is a three-dose series. It’s the initial vaccine, the second vaccine 21 days later, and then the third dose two months later. The Moderna vaccine is exactly the same. It’s 28 days, two doses, 28 days apart. The differences are smaller amounts of vaccine,” Dr. Lewis said.

Dr. Lewis said the shots will offer young children protection from hospitalization and possibly death and that they should be as effective as the other vaccines.

“It’s an extremely safe vaccine. It’s an effective vaccine. You know, these vaccines are not 100% perfect. We’ve seen breakthrough cases, but I think it’s really important because it really has cut down on the transmission and the kids and adults who are getting sick now tend to be more mildly sick.”

Dr. Lewis said he expects the Pfizer vaccine any day.

We did reach out to the county health department and local hospitals to see what their plans will be in regards to this vaccine.

News10NBC is still waiting to hear back.