After the Food and Drug Administration last week gave emergency authorization to the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of five, some parents likely have questions. 

Dr. Joseph Sellers, an immediate past president of the Medical Society of the State of New York, said in a Capital Tonight interview some parents have been eagerly awaiting the approval, while others may be hesitant. 

"My message is: Talk to your doctor," he said. "Talk to the person who you trust to take care of your children, the person who is there when your kids are sick, the person who is there to help your children have the best growth development and the healthiest and happiest life."

Having kids vaccinated could help protect not just children, but also vulnerable family members, including older adults. 

COVID-19 has shown to be able to mutate and, in some instances, spread quickly with new strains. Having more people vaccinated could prevent further mutations, Sellers said.  

"As long as there are human hosts with the virus inside, the virus will be replicating," he said. "There will be mutations, and mutations lead to new strains. So the best hope to stop viral mutations is to deny the virus access to new hosts."