Coconino County health officials will begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations to children between the ages of 5 and 11 later this week. It follows the recent approval of the lower-dose shots by federal agencies. KNAU’s Ryan Heinsius reports.
The County will set up an indoor clinic at the Flagstaff Mall beginning Friday. Vaccinations for children between ages 5 and 11 will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. Fridays and Wednesdays and a guardian must accompany them. Adult vaccinations will also be available at the site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays and Wednesdays. No appointments will be available and doses will be administered on a first come, first served basis.
In addition, pharmacies and health care providers have been approved to administer the vaccine to children.
According to Coconino County Health and Human Services Director Kim Musselman, vaccinating children is a critical step to end the pandemic.
“Although COVID-19 may impact children less severely than adults, it is a serious illness and can lead to significant long-term effects on people of all ages,” Musselman says.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week recommended the younger age group receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making about 28 million children nationwide eligible. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for younger children last week.
The vaccines are about a third of an adult dose and a second shot will be given three weeks after the first. Studies have shown the vaccine is more than 90% effective for children.
