COVID-19 vaccines for those 5 to 11 years old have begun and 28 million kids are now eligible.
So, when will they be available where you live?
Santa Clara County will start vaccinations Wednesday at its vaccine sites by appointment only, and nurses have set up a kid-friendly side to make the vaccine less daunting.
On Nov. 8, officials with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, Stanford Children’s Health, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education will discuss COVID-19 vaccines for children ages five to 11 in a virtual town hall. The event will be held on Zoom.
Local pediatricians said they’re also ramping up. Some of them pre-ordered doses this week and are ready for an influx of parents and kids who want the vaccine Wednesday morning.
San Mateo County will do something similar to Santa Clara County sites at its event center opening up for kids' vaccines on Saturday.
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“A 5 to 11 year old, there may be a little fear, rightfully so,” said Supervisor David Canepa. “Some kids may not want shots. We want to create a space that’s family friendly.”
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San Francisco is urging families to contact their pediatrician first, if they have one, and will have the doses available soon at its vaccine sites.
Leading pediatricians said vaccinating the young age group is critical if they are to return to a normal childhood.
"There are children in second grade who have never experienced a normal school year ... students in middle school who missed out on school sports and extracurricular activities,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stanford Children’s Health will begin vaccinations Thursday, and Kaiser Permanente says it will begin taking appointments on Thursday.
Health officials remind people that they check in with their local pharmacies for shots as the White House says by Monday, 15 million doses will be available nationwide.
