These pediatrician parents want to convince New Yorkers to vaccinate their kids – SILive.com

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York States latest strategy to increase coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination rates in children across the state employs empathy from parents who happen to be medical professionals.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Monday the launch of a new ad campaign as part of the state Department of Healths #VaxForKids initiative to boost vaccinations rates. The ads feature local New York pediatricians who are parents encouraging other parents to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19.

The campaign includes 30-second and 60-second versions of the television commercial in English and Spanish, which began airing on Monday, April 4, and will continue for several weeks, the governors office said.

This new media campaign further supports our #VaxForKids campaign by helping parents and guardians learn more about the importance of getting our kids vaccinated from their most trusted source, pediatricians. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and will help protect eligible children and adolescents ages 5 to 17 from severe illness and hospitalization, New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Mary T. Bassett said in the announcement.

Pediatricians in the commercial disclose that their children have been vaccinated and emphasize that it is in the interest of their safety.

I would never recommend something if I didnt think it was safe for my own children. And my children were vaccinated as soon as they could be, Dr. Elizabeth Murray, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Golisano Childrens Hospital in Rochester.

Hochul emphasized that the vaccine is doctor-approved and the single best tool to prevent children and families from severe illness or hospitalization due to COVID-19 in the announcement.

This new media campaign will help ensure parents are hearing directly from pediatricians and trusted health care providers, so they know just how critical it is to get their children vaccinated. Parents and guardians, if you havent already, please talk to your childs pediatrician about getting the vaccine, and the booster dose once they are eligible, the governor said.

The governors office also cited data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying that 42.3% of children ages 5 to 11 and 82.5% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose; while 36% of children 5 to 11 and 72.6% of adolescents 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated. Also based on CDC data, New York State ranks two and one, respectively, for fully vaccinated children ages 5 to 11 and fully vaccinated adolescents ages 12 to 17 among the top 10 large states.

VACCINATION SITES AVAILABLE ACROSS N.Y. STATE

Children 5 years old and older are eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. As of Jan. 7, 2022, adolescents 12 and older are eligible for a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least five months after completing their initial vaccine series. Additionally, children 5 to 11 with certain immunocompromising conditions are eligible for an additional dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 28 days after completing their initial vaccine series.

The vaccine is free and available for children at more than 2,000 sites across the state. All state mass vaccination sites are administering the vaccine for children 5 years old and older, boosters for New Yorkers 12 years old and older, and additional doses for immunocompromised children five years old and older.

In addition to the states pop-up and mass vaccination sites, New Yorkers can visit vaccines.gov, text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.

Parents and guardians can also contact their childs pediatrician, family physician, county health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), rural health centers, or pharmacies that may be administering the vaccine to this age group. Make sure that the provider offers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 RELATED RESOURCES

N.Y. Dept. of Health

CDCs website

COVID-19 vaccine finder

NYC Vaccine Command Center

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These pediatrician parents want to convince New Yorkers to vaccinate their kids - SILive.com