Columbia health leaders plan for 12-15 age group vaccinations
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
UPDATE:
Boone Health announced Tuesday, it will hold a vaccine clinic for anyone over the age of 12 on Thursday and Saturday.
The clinic will be located inside the Columbia mall and has appointments available.
You can set up an appointment here.
ORIGINAL:
Officials with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services and Columbia Public Schools say both groups are planning coronavirus vaccine clinics for the 12-15-year-old age group.
"The district will work with our health partners to offer clinics similar to what we have done for those 16 and older," said Michelle Baumstark, a spokesperson for CPS.
The district has already put on multiple clinics in May for high school students 16 and older.
According to Scott Clardy, the assistant director of PHHS, the health department has worked in collaboration with the local districts to plan for this new EUA.
"We've been planning on this happening by working with the schools to come up with a plan for getting those 12-15 vaccinated," Clardy said. "We're looking at some in-school clinics for the first shot, then we'll do the second shot at summer school and/or clinics at our building."
According to the FDA, from March 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, approximately 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in individuals 11-17 years of age have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although, children and adolescents generally have a milder COVID-19 disease course as compared to adults.
In Missouri, data from the state Department of Health and Senior Services shows there have been 18,176 COVID-19 cases in children aged 10-14. For the 15-17 age group, the state reported 19,118 coronavirus infections.
The FDA says the Pfizer vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in the 12-15 age group.
You can find more information from the FDA regarding use of the vaccine in the new age group, including benefits and risks, here.
Dr. Peter Marks, the director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration says there are a sufficient number of health centers that should be able to distribute this by later on this week.
"Obviously, the ACIP will be meeting on Wednesday and I think the idea is that by shortly after that, children in the age 12 to 15, should be able to get vaccines at those sites," Marks said.
The ACIP is the CDC's independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the specifics about how the vaccine should be distributed for the 12-15 year old population.
Then, the CDC Director will endorse and sign the committee's recommendations which will allow for those vaccinations to begin.
You can find the ACIP meeting agenda here.
