November 11, 2021
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov
Pittsylvania/Danville Health Department Offering Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
Primary Series and Booster Shots of all three COVID vaccines will also available
DANVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health’s Pittsylvania/Danville Health will offer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, Saturday, November 20 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cherrystone Missionary Baptist Association located at 5551 Tom Fork Road in Ringgold.
“Getting our children vaccinated is a critical step to protecting them from COVID-19,” said Director of the Pittsylvania/Danville and Southside Health Departments Scott Spillmann, MD, MPH. “It will allow them to return to normal activities. With a vaccination, our children can safely stay in school, visit family and friends, travel, and take part in extracurricular activities.”
Register in advance at vase.vdh.virginia.gov/. If you have any trouble registering or need additional assistance, please call 1-877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). English- and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Translation services also are available in more than 100 languages.
Appointments are highly recommended for children vaccines to reduce wait time, but walk-ins are also welcome. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under 18. Those with an appointment should plan to arrive no earlier than 20 minutes prior to the appointment time.
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 vaccination of 5-11 year olds, the clinics will offer first, second, additional primary and booster doses at no cost to the public. The Moderna vaccine and the single-dose Johnson & Johnson are available for anyone 18 and older. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available for anyone five and older. A parent or guardian must accompany anyone under 18.
The booster vaccine can be obtained by eligible individuals at least six months from the date of their second mRNA (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) COVID-19 vaccine or at least two months from the date of their Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster dose may choose which vaccine product they would like to receive as a booster. For those individuals that choose a different product than their primary series, VDH urges you to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider who can assist you in making the best decision for your own situation.
If you are coming for your second, third or booster dose, please bring your vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine you received in previous doses.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, its safety and answers to frequently asked questions at VDH’s website and CDC’s website.
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