VACCINE INFORMATION
Please see below for our letter to families regarding the recent expansion to NYC's "Key to Success" program that includes a vaccine mandate that applies to all students ages 5 & up who wish to attend 116Kids' classes. This mandate is an order of NYC and we must comply. Please read these communications FIRST and then feel free to reach out with additional questions.
All staff of 116Kids are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and were required to be so before they began work with us in September. See our Health & Safety section to learn about all of the ways we are working to help keep your children safe.
At 116Kids, we believe in the safety and efficacy of vaccinations and are here to help connect any interested families with the resources they need. See below for links to vaccination sites, as well as information on the currently approved vaccination options for children aged 5-11 years old.
Citywide Vaccination Resources:
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The federal government is providing the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status.
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Check with your child’s healthcare provider about whether they offer COVID-19 vaccination.
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Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available for children.
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Search www.vaccines.gov, text your zip code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations near you.
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To learn more about the safety and efficacy of the current COVID-19 vaccination, please read this information provided by the CDC.
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Why Children and Teens Should Get Vaccinated for COVID-19
There are approximately 28 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old in the United States, and there have been nearly 2 million cases of COVID-19 within this age group during the pandemic. COVID-19 can make children very sick and cause children to be hospitalized. In some situations, the complications from infection can lead to death.
Children are as likely to be infected with COVID-19 as adults and can:
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Get very sick from COVID-19
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Have both short and long-term health complications from COVID-19
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Spread COVID-19 to others, including at home and school
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As of mid-October 2021, children ages 5 through 11 years have experienced more than 8,300 COVID-19 related hospitalizations and nearly 100 deaths from COVID-19. In fact, COVID-19 ranks as one of the top 10 causes of death for children aged 5 through 11 years.
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Children who get infected with COVID-19 can also develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)—a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Since the pandemic began, more than 2,300 cases of MIS-C have been reported in children ages 5 through 11 years. Children with underlying medical conditions are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with children without underlying medical conditions.
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Help Protect Your Child, Your Family, and Others
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help protect children ages 5 years and older from getting COVID-19.
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Vaccinating children can help protect family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected.
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Vaccination can also help keep children from getting seriously sick even if they do get COVID-19.
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Vaccinating children ages 5 years and older can help keep them in school and help them safely participate in sports, playdates, and other group activities.
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COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe for Children and Teens
Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, scientists conducted clinical trials with thousands of children and no serious safety concerns were identified. The FDA gave the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine emergency authorization to use in children ages 5-15 years old and full approval to use in people ages 16 years and older.
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The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks.