As children are now able to get the pediatric Pfizer vaccine, Mayor Muriel Bowser is encouraging parents to vaccinate their children ages 5 and up. (Courtesy Photo)
By Deborah Bailey
Special to the AFRO
Now that COVID-19 vaccinations for children under 12 have been approved by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), shots for 5 to 11-year-old District residents will be available in pharmacies, hospitals, health centers and select pop-up locations at D.C. schools, according to Mayor Muriel M. Bowser.
Bowser announced plans last week to ensure the pediatric Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available at more than 60 sites. Federal authorities made an initial allotment of 24,000 doses of the children’s vaccine to D.C. residents, according to the Executive Office of the Mayor. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is a two-shot regimen taken in separate appointments.
More than 60 private pharmacies, pediatrician’s offices as well as D.C. Children’s Hospital will have shots available the first week after CDC approval, according to the District of Columbia Department of Health.
The pharmacies include select CVS, Giant, Safeway, Walgreens and Walmart locations, as well as Grubb’s Pharmacy in Southeast. Children’s Hospital will make the vaccine available through their eight primary care locations and through a Mobile Unit, according to DC Health Officials.
The City will also sponsor more than 30 pop-up clinics at schools and recreation centers in each ward from Nov. 8-30. Appointments are not necessary, but children must be accompanied by parents to receive the vaccine, according to health officials.
Parents will be given information about how to access the second shot in the Pfizer-BioNTech regimen at the site where children receive their first dose.
The Executive Office of the Mayor released a list of pop-up clinic locations with dates for young people to get their first dose. The pop-up locations include six sites in Ward 8, five in Ward 7, three in Ward 6, four in Ward 5, five in Ward 4, three in Ward 3, three in Ward 2 and two in Ward 1 all on various dates in November.
Community groups interested in sponsoring a pop-up clinic may contact vaccineexchange.dc.gov to be connected to local vaccine providers.
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