DENVER — With fall weather just around the corner, doctors say now is the time to get updated flu and COVID vaccines. But if you’re looking for a COVID-19 vaccine for a young child, you may have to wait.
The newly updated COVID vaccine remains out of stock at many Colorado CVS and Walgreens locations. Many pediatric offices are reporting a shortage in supply as well.
"The select CVS Pharmacy locations in the Denver area that offer pediatric vaccines have used their inventory and are expecting more to arrive by the end of the week," CVS said in a statement Tuesday. "The digital appointment scheduler will be updated when more pediatric doses arrive at the locations that offer it."
"We are making pediatric appointments available as soon as the vaccines arrive in stores," a statement from Walgreens said.
Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, said late approval by the Food and Drug Administration has led to some delays, but the shots are expected to be widely available in Colorado in the coming weeks.
Herlihy said there should still be plenty of time to get your child vaccinated before the anticipated winter surge of COVID-19 arrives.
“The ideal timing of vaccination is going to be September into October," she said. "So we still have plenty of time to be prepared for that typical winter viral season.”
At Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Dr. Neil Cella said they’re just now gearing up for a busy cold and flu season.
He said patients who are vaccinated continue to show better responses to both. Despite the delay in arrival, parents should continue seeking out the vaccine over the next few months.
“In a perfect world, maybe it would have rolled out at the beginning of the school year, but a little late. Better late than never,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough winter so getting it on board is definitely recommended.”