Benzie-Leelanau Health Department offers vaccines for 5-11 year olds beginning Nov. 12
From staff reports
The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department stated in a press release Wednesday that it will begin to offer COVID-19 vaccinations for children, 5-11 years old, starting Friday, Nov. 12. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting the health department’s website.
Following approval by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the previous week, providers across the country and northern Michigan are preparing to provide the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as 5 years old.
Scientists have conducted clinical trials with about 3,000 children and the FDA has determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has met the safety and efficacy standards for authorization in children ages 5 through 15 years. In addition, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has now been FDA-approved for people ages 16 and older. To learn more about the process of developing, authorizing, and approving COVID-19 vaccines click here.
“COVID-19 infection can cause serious illness in children, and that risk far exceeds any potential risk of the vaccine,” said Dr. Josh Meyerson, Pediatrician and the Medical Director for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department. “I strongly urge parents to consider getting a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 years and older as soon as possible. If parents have any concerns or questions about whether the vaccine is right for their child, they should consult with their primary care provider,” Dr. Meyerson added. Parents can also call their child’s primary care provider to inquire about COVID-19 vaccinations.
Although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared with adults, children can:
• Be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
• Get very sick from COVID-19
• Have both short and long-term health complications from COVID-19
• Spread COVID-19 to others
The Health Department is allowing children 10 years and older to schedule in our regular COVID-19 vaccine clinics if the parent chooses. Otherwise, the health department is hosting clinics especially geared toward children 5 to 11 years old. These separate clinics will accommodate children in numerous ways, including allowing parents to comfort their child by having them sit on their laps and be more intimate and smaller than clinics held for adults.
A parent/guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18 to a COVID-19 clinic should bring some form of identification for their child and insurance cards.
To schedule an appointment exclusively for children 5 to 11 years old, click here. To schedule an appointment into our regular COVID-19 vaccine clinic for anyone 10 and older, click here. Anyone may call the Michigan COVID hotline at 888-535-6136 if they have questions or are not able to find a time or date that works for them and/or their child. The calendar on the website www.bldhd.org lists COVID-19 clinics currently scheduled through December 15.
