November 5, 2021
Media Contact: Allie Phillips, population health manager, allison.phillips@vdh.virginia.gov, (276)-415-3360
LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts Offering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
(WISE, Va.) –Beginning the week of November 8, both the LENOWISCO Health District and Cumberland Plateau Health District will begin to 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.
The Pfizer vaccine (5-11 year old) is a two-dose series in which the second dose is recommended to be given 21 days after the first dose. Two weeks after receiving the second dose, persons are considered to be fully vaccinated. Benefits to being fully vaccinated include reducing the risk of disease, hospitalization, and death, along with helping to protect friends, family, and the community.
“COVID has had quite a large impact on children, especially those that fall within the 5-11 year old age group,” said Allie Phillips, population health manager. “With such a large number of cases within this specific population, COVID-19 vaccines are a critical tool in helping to protect not only the children themselves, but also their friends, families, and other loved ones. Being able to have 5-11 year olds get vaccinated allows for these children to return to their normal lives which includes being able to stay in school safely and enjoy extracurricular activities.”
Due to the vast amount of planning conducted by the Virginia Department of Health and both the Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts, families will have multiple options for where to get their children the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Ways to schedule a vaccine for children ages 5-11 include:
School Clinics
Parents may sign up their children for school clinics by using VASE+. Specific links for each school district can be found on your local school’s websites/social media and your local health department’s website/social media.
Health Department Clinics
To schedule a vaccine through the health department, either call your local health department OR visit https://vase.vdh.virginia.gov/ and enter your ZIP code. This will allow you to find the specific vaccine days and times that are available. Below is a list of phone numbers for each health department located in both the Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts.
Lenowisco Health District:
Lee County Health Department – 276-346-2011
Scott County Health Department – 276-386-1312
Wise County & City of Norton Health Department – 276-328-8000
Cumberland Plateau Health District:
Buchanan County Health Department – 276-935-4591
Dickenson County Health Department – 276-926-4979
Russell County Health Department – 276-889-7621
Tazewell County Health Department – 276-988-5585
Parents may also contact their local healthcare provider or pharmacy to determine if the vaccine is available through these providers.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine. For specific information regarding vaccination in the Lenowisco Health District or Cumberland Plateau Health District, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/lenowisco/ or www.vdh.virginia.gov/cumberland-plateau/.
# # #