Columbia Public Schools holds more vaccine clinics for middle school students Monday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Students 12 years or older have more opportunities to get the coronavirus vaccine this week.

Columbia Public Schools has partnered with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department to offer free coronavirus vaccinations to students at Oakland, Smithton, and Gentry Middle Schools on Monday.

Clinics at Oakland and Smithton Middle Schools are from 8 a.m to 10 a.m Monday, and at Gentry between 12 p.m and 2 p.m.

If a student wants to get the vaccine, a permission slip needs to be signed by a parent or guardian before getting the Pfizer shot. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine currently authorized for those individuals 12 years old or older and requires two doses. Each school has designated dates for both the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine.  

Additional clinics at each CPS high school will also be held Tuesday through Friday.

Students are not required to receive the vaccine.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, says that he expects coronavirus vaccinations to open up to younger children in a few months.

He said last week children as young as 4 "would likely be able to get vaccinated by the time we reach the end of calendar year 2021 and at the latest, into the first quarter of 2022."

Pfizer is planning to ask the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of its vaccine for children younger than 12 by September at the earliest.