Multiple clinics in Mid-Missouri set to vaccinate adolescents ages 12 to 15
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Health care providers across Mid-Missouri will begin to administer Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine to children ages 12 to 15 years old after the CDC recommended the use of the vaccine and state regulators authorized it on Wednesday.
Boone Health is hosting Columbia's first clinic offering shots to the new age group, at the Columbia Mall on Thursday.
As of 11 a.m. Thursday, all appointments for Boone Health's clinic were filled. Appointments could open up later and signups are available on the Boone Health website.
MU Health Care is also set to host vaccine clinics for those newly eligible beginning Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.
The group will also hold two specialized vaccine clinics specifically for those adolescents aged 12 to 15. The clinics are set to take place at Faurot Field on Monday and again next Thursday, May 20, from 4 to 8 p.m.
A link to sign up is available on MU Health Care's website. As of Thursday afternoon, 46 appointments were available for Friday's clinic with hundreds of slots open for the May 17 and May 20 clinics.
Boone Health Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robin Blount said being able to vaccinate younger people is needed for Missouri to reach herd immunity.
As of Thursday morning, the state dashboard reported 4,204,238 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been given out in Missouri. Almost 39% of residents have started the vaccination process and almost 32% of the state population is completely vaccinated. According to the dashboard, almost 50% of Missourians ages 18 and older have started vaccination and over 40% have completed vaccination.
According to the state health department, 313,901 Missouri residents in the 12-15 age group are now eligible to be vaccinated. The department says that brings the total eligible population in Missouri to 5,235,715, which equates to 85% of the state's population.
Blount encouraged all those newly eligible to get vaccinated, saying the vaccine is 100% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in that age group.
Blount said vaccine side effects are reported at the same rate as other age groups and the vaccine is actually more effective in preventing COVID-19 in adolescents due to their generally stronger immune systems.
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