Rockland-based Pfizer announced that an extra low dose of its shot given in a series of three offers kids under five strong protection.

Pfizer plans to submit the findings to U.S. regulators later this week. The Food and Drug Administration already is evaluating an application by rival Moderna to offer two-dose vaccinations to tots - and set June 15 as a tentative date for its independent scientific advisers to publicly debate the data from one or both companies.

Dr. David Levi, of Hudson River Pediatrics, says, "The fact that it's new and that there's a lot of different information out there, I think it confuses and scares some parents."

Levi says overall kids have handled COVID-19 better than adults even without a shot but that the long-term symptoms are unknown.

"I think he needs it," says Elizabeth Terry, mother of a 3-year-old. "I just hope it's the right thing to do for the kids."

Levi says if everything is approved, he expects to be able to start vaccinating young kids by late summer to early fall.