COVID-19 Vaccine for Youth Ages 5-11 in DHS Custody

Dear Resource Parents, 

You may have seen news about the recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 – 11.  I wanted to update you on the guidance we are issuing regarding the vaccine and hopefully answer any questions you may have. 

First, some background.  As you know, the Pfizer vaccine has been available for age 16 and up since December 2020 and for teens 12-15 in May 2021.  Since that time several million teens have received the vaccine with a very low incidence of significant side effects.  Over the last few months, vaccine safety, efficacy and dosing has been studied in around 3,000 children age 5-11, resulting in the recent recommendations by the CDC and endorsed by multiple health care organizations.

OKDHS is committed to following health and safety recommendations for children and caregivers, and simultaneously committed to recognizing that the choice to obtain a COVID vaccine is a deeply personal for one for families to make for their children.  The experience with the vaccine in this younger age group will grow rapidly but is currently limited, and the health risks of being infected with COVID are different for children than for teens or adults.  All these factors must be considered when making vaccine decisions. 

At this time, OKDHS is proceeding with the following guidance:

• For children in emergency, temporary, and voluntary custody, consent should be obtained from the parent. OKDHS encourages and will assist parents if necessary to attend medical appointments with their children so that a direct conversation with primary care providers can take place about COVID and the risk/benefit to their children. 
• If parents are unable to be located and failed efforts to contact parents are documented, CW staff should notify the child’s attorney and then they or foster parents may proceed with consenting for the vaccine under “routine and ordinary care” policy.
• For children in permanent custody, CWS or foster parents may consent for the COVID vaccine as part of routine and ordinary care, just like other vaccines. Notice should be given to the child’s attorney.
• If a parent does not consent but a medical provider identifies that the child or their caregiver has a health condition that increases their risk from COVID and recommends the vaccine, then CWS should document that and may consent under “routine and ordinary care”, just as with other vaccines.

I recognize that there may be differences of opinion about the COVID vaccine between natural parents, foster families, CW staff, and attorneys, and that it may take time to work through each unique situation, but I would ask for patience and grace for each other in the process.  None of us have lived through a pandemic before – this is new for us all – but I’m incredibly thankful for your love and care for kids during this time. 

If you any questions please reach out to the child’s primary care worker. 

Deb

Deborah Shropshire

Director, Child Welfare Services