The Food and Drug Administration recently approved Pfizer’s-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for ages 5 to 11.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber says parents need to be making the  decision whether or not to vaccinate their child and understand the benefits and risks that are involved. Arber describes why he would make that choice for his children. 

“My children will be vaccinated for COVID-19 because even though there is a smaller chance of them getting sick and being hospitalized there is still a chance and if one of my kids were to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and had the ability to give them a safe and effective vaccine and didn’t do so. So I wouldn’t feel good about that decision for myself.”

Arber says the vaccine is safe and effective for children but he strongly recommends that parents consult with their family pediatrician. For additional information contact the Guthrie County Health Services Department. Additionally, there are a number vaccine clinics this week with Guthrie County Public Health and Guthrie County Hospital, which are listed below.