Babies as young as 6 months can now get vaccinated against COVID-19 after the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration approved its emergency authorization.

Parents of children under 5 years old can now begin to make appointments to get their shots in New York. 

The CDC and FDA both approved the Pfizer or Moderna shots for kids under 5 years old. This week, pharmacies and health care providers will start receiving doses for this age group as well. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recommends parents to reach out to their child's pediatrician to see if they can get the shots.

Some parents have been hesitant about getting their babies vaccinated due to the possible mild side effects such as swelling at the injection site and fatigue, but experts say these vaccines have proven to be effective and parents shouldn't worry about choosing one over the other.

Parents can start to use New York City's COVID-19 vaccine finder to book appointments for their young children. This includes the 10 city vaccine hubs where kids 6 months through 5 years old can get the Moderna vaccine.