NEENAH, Wis. – ThedaCare is committed to providing the most current and accurate COVID-19 vaccine information regarding eligibility, available doses and scheduling access.
In mid-June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years, as well as to Moderna’s vaccine for kids ages 6 months to 6 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) accepted the recommendation to provide vaccines for nearly 20 million children who are younger than 5.
“We are encouraged that everyone 6 months and older is now eligible to receive vaccination against COVID-19,” said Dr. Mark Cockley, ThedaCare Chief Clinical Officer. “Vaccinations are currently the most important tool in our toolbox. It is recommended that we vaccinate children in this age group and provide them better protection, as soon as possible.”
ThedaCare will begin offering Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to children 6 months and older on July 12. The health care organization only recommends vaccines that are deemed to be safe, and encourages community members to get vaccinated when they are eligible. ThedaCare teams have been planning and mindfully preparing to vaccinate children in this age group for several months, ensuring coordination and continuing the long history of delivering vaccines safely and effectively.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months through 4 years of age requires three total doses. The first two doses of the vaccine are given three weeks apart, followed by a third dose at least two months later. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months through 5 years of age requires two doses, 28 days apart.
“The expanded vaccine eligibility is certainly an exciting moment, and it is important to get vaccinated if you are able to do so,” said Dr. Cockley. “When it comes to considering whether to get your child vaccinated, parents should have conversation with their child’s health care provider and do their own research from trusted sources.”
According to the CDC, children experience similar side effects as adults do after receiving the vaccine. The most common are pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever. The side effects generally subside in 24 hours.
Vaccine Appointments Available
At this time, community members can begin scheduling vaccination appointments for children 6 months and older. ThedaCare will be offering the vaccines at locations across the service area, including in Appleton, Berlin, Neenah, New London, Shawano and Waupaca, as well as during wellness visits and at primary care offices.
ThedaCare will manage COVID-19 vaccine scheduling primarily through MyThedaCare/My Chart. This process ensures a single channel of coordination of the vaccine and that the vaccine becomes part of patients’ electronic medical records. Once individuals are eligible, they can make an appointment to be vaccinated.
If you or your children are not current ThedaCare patients or do not have MyThedaCare, you can set up a free account at MyThedaCare.org. MyThedaCare is also accessible on mobile devices through the MyChart app (available on both iOS and Android).
Create a MyThedaCare Account:
- Visit org
- Click “Sign Up Now” and follow the prompts
- Visit MyThedaCare today to ensure your account information is up to date*. Then monitor your email and app alerts in the coming weeks for your notification.
Parents will need to create an account for themselves and then one for their child, if they do not already have one. If you are creating a new account for a minor child, a proxy request will need to be completed. If you need help locating the information or are having trouble accessing your MyThedaCare account, please call the MyThedaCare technical help desk at 877.259.6180. If you cannot access MyThedaCare, you can call your primary care provider’s office or 920.830.6877.
All children who are being vaccinated will need to have a parent/guardian with them at the vaccination appointment for consent. Written consent will not be accepted.
Vaccine updates will be available on the ThedaCare Facebook page and COVID-19 website. We encourage you to check those resources regularly and share them with friends and family. For more information about COVID-19, vaccines, testing, online care options, an online symptom checker, community resources, prevention guidelines and other important news and updates, please visit thedacarecovid19.org/.
