HCHC now offering Pfizer vaccine to children 5-18

Henry County Health Center is now offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-18.

The vaccine will be given by appointment only, and parental consent will be needed.

There are currently two dates where people can sign up for the vaccine.

Friday, Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, from 9 a.m.-noon at the First Presbyterian Church, are the first two scheduled clinical locations.

Clinic options and appointment scheduling can be found at HealthyHenryCounty.org/covid.

Additional locations will be added as they are scheduled. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

HCHC will be working on scheduling and dedicating hours to after-school clinics at each school district for convenience to families in other areas.

Although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared to adults, they can still become infected and get very sick from the virus.

Children can still see both short and long-term health complications from the virus and spread it to others.

Those children ages 5-11 will receive the pediatric dose of the vaccine. All children will need a second dose of the vaccine three weeks following the first.

HCHC is asking community members to help protect their families and slow the spread of the virus by getting vaccinated.

They would also like to remind people that booster shots are available to several individuals six months or more following their initial series of shots.

People 65 years or older, people 18 years and older who reside in long-term care facilities, people 18 years or older with underlying medical conditions, and people aged 18 years or older who work or live in a high-risk setting are eligible for booster shots.

Comments: hunter.moeller@southeastiowaunion.com