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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021
Berrien County Health Department now taking appointments for COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11
ollowing the recent authorization and recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the Berrien County Health Department began vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 years old with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Monday, Nov. 8. The Berrien County Health Department is currently taking appointments for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for this age
group. The following clinics will be for children ages 5 to 11 only. Adults can continue to schedule appointments at clinics not designated for children only. Residents who need assistance in scheduling an appointment can call 1-800-815-5485. • Benton Harbor -Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 3 to 6 p.m. • Benton Harbor - Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. Parents and guardians wishing to protect their children over the
age of 5 from COVID-19 may schedule an appointment online at bchdmi.org/covid19. A parent or guardian must provide consent before any minor under the age of 18 may receive their vaccination. “We urge families to consider vaccinating their children 5 years and older,” said Guy Miller, interim health officer for the Berrien County Health Department, in a press release. “Researchers have found the COVID-19 vaccination for this age group to be safe, effective and
beneficial to reducing COVID-19 transmission in our community.”
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imilar to the adult vaccine, it is a two-part series given at least three weeks apart. The dose for children is approximately a third of what adults receive. Doses for children will also be packaged differently and use smaller needles to protect against mix-ups. The vaccine safety was studied in over 3,000 children ages 5 to
5
11, with no serious side effects detected in the ongoing study. Currently, the only vaccine approved for use in children ages 5 to 11 is the Pfizer vaccine. BCHD continues to offer open scheduling for both first and second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as well as Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine with appointment availability found at www.bchdmi. org/COVID19. — STAFF REPORTS
