Updated October 18th The COVID-19 vaccine specific for the fall of 2023 is NOT available at SSP at this time.
We understand the urgency and importance of vaccinating our youngest pediatric patients who have not been vaccinated in the past. We are committed to being a reliable resource for our families.
Please check this page regularly. Updates and community resources will be listed here. In the interim, please check our website before calling. This will allow us to attend to the children who need our immediate attention.
As of today, October 18th, our State has made the vaccine increasingly available.
Many local pharmacies are vaccinating children over 5 yrs old. Many Walgreens and Wal-Mart pharmacies will vaccinate 3 yrs and up.
Padek Health Pharmacy are vaccinating all ages. Children 6 months and up. There are two locations. https://www.padekhealth.com/covid-19-vaccine-registration/
Harris Teeter will vaccinate children 1 year old and up
GRUBB'S Pharmacy will vaccinate infants 6 months and up. Vaccinatedc.timetap.com/#/ A PRESCRIPTION FROM OUR OFFICE IS REQUIRED for children 6 months to 4 years old. Please request a prescription in the patient portal. It will be delivered to the portal within 3 days of your request.
Two MoCo pediatric urgent care centers, Total Access Pediatric and Xpress Pediatrics, plan to stock it for ALL CHILDREN 6 months and older. Xpress Pediatrics continies to restock.
Capletrx.com in Columbia, Maryland has both Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines available for 3 years and above.
The Maryland Department of Health website provides links to the vaccine.gov website where you can search by age and zip code.
By mid-October, you can text your ZIP code to 438829 to find a location vaccinating with the 2023-2024 COVID vaccine.
CDC recommends COVID vaccination for everyone. The 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine is a monovalent vaccine that covers strains currently circulating.
Healthy children 4 years of age and up, who have had natural immunity and/or completed the prior vaccine series are at a decreased risk for serious COVID infections based on current data. However, the vaccine was recommended by the experts we trust in a 13-1 vote for a few reasons, even in those considered lower risk for serious infection.
It may prevent long COVID (based on limited studies)
Protection could soften short-term symptoms
The vaccine could minimize absences from workplaces and classrooms
The vaccine could curb the spread
In general, children under 4 yrs of age who have not had the primary series are more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than those above 4 years.
Some independent resources have shared that previously vaccinated healthy children over 4 yrs may not benefit enough to outweigh the RARE risks associated with COVID-19 vaccination. We agree that each parent should consider their own history and discuss concerns as needed.
Your SSP doctors 100% stand behind vaccinating ALL children who have not had their primary series.
Please review the CDC and AAP resources below. If you still have questions, please feel free to request a consultation appointment with your child's pediatrician. Please use the portal if the question is not specific to your child's unique history and can be answered by our medical support staff.
CDC Graphic attached applies to children 6 months to 4 years
FOR CHILDREN OVER 5 YEARS
Regardless of prior vaccination will get only 1 dose of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna)
If they were vaccinated previously they can take either brand of the mRNA vaccine
If they were vaccinated previously, they must wait 2 months since last dose
Can wait up to 3 months from a recent infection