November 1, 2021
Media Contact: Breanne Forbes Hubbard, population health manager, breanne.forbes-hubbard@vdh.virginia.gov, 276-759-8297
Potential Distribution Plans for Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccines in Mount Rogers Health District
(Marion, Va.) – Mount Rogers Health District is pleased to share its plans for distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to 5-11 year-olds, pending recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On October 26, the advisory committee to the FDA recommended expanding the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to include 5-11 year-olds. On October 29, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for this age group. The CDC advisory committee will meet on November 2 to discuss the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for this age group. If the CDC director makes a recommendation, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines can be distributed to 5-11 year-olds in Virginia.
“We know that pediatricians are a trusted source of health information, and often a comfortable, familiar setting for children,” said Breanne Forbes Hubbard, population health manager. “We encourage families to check with their pediatricians for COVID-19 vaccine appointments for their children. We are also working to schedule clinics at schools, and will have some vaccine appointments at local health department offices. Some pharmacies will also be offering this vaccine.”
While VDH expects that all children in Virginia will have access to the vaccine over the coming months, due to production and distribution constraints, supply will initially be limited. The CDC is providing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to Virginia in weekly allocations.
Scheduling information will be sent out by school systems once the vaccine is authorized for use in Virginia. These clinics are being planned for the first few weeks in November. All clinics will be held after school hours, and a parent must accompany children being vaccinated.
Local health departments will schedule vaccination appointments. Due to limited supply, appointments will be scheduled in blocks of 10, to avoid wasting any doses.
“We are thrilled about the possibility of providing COVID-19 vaccines to this age group,” said Forbes Hubbard. “We know that getting our younger school children vaccinated means less transmission in schools, fewer quarantines, and fewer missed school days and activities. We encourage parents to reach out to pediatricians and other trusted health sources for accurate information and answers to their questions about this vaccine.”
When the Pfizer-BioNTech for 5-11 year-olds becomes available, information on where to find a vaccine will be available at www.vaccinate.virginia.gov, or by calling 877-VAX-IN-VA.
For more information about COVID-19 vaccination, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine. For details on COVID-19 vaccination in Mount Rogers Health District, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/mount-rogers/.\
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