COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency announced on Thursday they will begin offering the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of five and 11 beginning next Tuesday November 9, 2021.
The agency’s scheduling website will be prepared on Friday morning, November 5 at 8:00 a.m. to accept pediatric dose appointments.
The first clinic offering vaccination for five to 11-year-old children will be next Tuesday November 9 at the Dearth Community Center in Coldwater.
Pediatric doses will also be offered on as part of the Health Agency clinics on Saturday November 13, 2021 at Three Rivers Middle School and on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at Hillsdale High School.
You’re asked to monitor the agency’s web site www.bhsj.org/scheduling for additional clinic dates and times.
Agency Medical Director Doctor Karen Luparello says, “The results seen in the 5-11-year-old study group demonstrated 91% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 illness. The most commonly reported side effects of the vaccine in the clinical trials included pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain. These symptoms lasted from 1-3 days, and aside from pain at the injection site, were more commonly reported after the second dose. We encourage parents to consider the risks of COVID-19 infection against the benefits of vaccination protection against severe illness, hospitalization, long haul COVID, and death. Parents should talk to their child’s primary care provider or contact your local health agency to ask questions or for additional information.”
Health Officer Rebecca Burns says, “Our agency is working diligently to provide access to vaccination for any person who desires it. Vaccination is an important part of a layered protection strategy recommended in schools and communities. We will continue to recommend masking for unvaccinated individuals, hand washing, and social distancing in public spaces. Vaccine for 5-11-year-old children will decrease the number of close contact quarantine notices within the schools. Vaccination is projected to result in fewer absences and reduce virtual learning days.”
For more information, contact your local office, visit www.bhsj.org, follow the agency on Facebook www.facebook.com/BHSJCHA or Instagram www.instagram.com/bhsj_healthagency.
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