November 3, 2021
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov
Chesterfield Health District Offering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
Appointments Times Now Available at Rockwood Vaccination Clinic
CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Effective Thursday, November 4, the Virginia Department of Health’s Chesterfield Health District will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, at its state-run Community Vaccination Center (CVC) located in the Rockwood Shopping Center at 10161 Hull Street Road in Midlothian.
The CVC is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Parents wishing to get their children vaccinated should make an appointment at vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged to reduce wait times. Those with an appointment should plan to arrive no earlier than 20 minutes prior to the appointment time. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under 18.
“COVID-19 vaccines are a critical tool that can protect our children,” said Director of Chesterfield Health District Alexander Samuel, MD, MPH. “We are excited to offer Kid Pods in our CVC to help children feel comfortable when getting the vaccine. We encourage all parents to get your children vaccinated as soon as possible. It is a step closer to returning to a more normal life, including safely staying in school, visiting family and friends, traveling, and taking part in extracurricular activities.”
Because the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has been planning for the expansion of vaccine eligibility and availability, families will have many options for where to get their children the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination sites may include:
- Pediatric offices
- Family practice offices
- Community Vaccination Centers (CVC)
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
- Retail pharmacies
- School-based clinics
- Mobile vaccine units
The experience of getting a COVID-19 vaccine will be very similar to the experience of getting routine vaccines. Parents can check out these tips on talking to their child about what to expect. For more about vaccinating children and teens, parents can visit the CDC website.
In addition to the vaccination of 5-11 year olds, the CVC will offer first, second, additional primary doses and booster shots at no cost to the public. The Moderna vaccine and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson are available for anyone 18 and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is available for anyone five and older. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under 18. Walk ins are available for primary series (age 12 and up) and booster doses only.
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MEDIA NOTE:
Members of the media are not permitted inside the CVCs when patients are present. Media may be allowed inside during press events or for tours before or after hours and must be escorted by a VDH-designated Public Information Officer (PIO) or other approved staff member. Arrangements must be made 24 hours ahead of time with Brookie Crawford at brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov.
Members of the media may respectfully approach clinic patients outside of the clinic and talk to them if they provide consent. Media members who do not comply may be asked to leave the site.