CHC Opens Vaccination Clinics For Those Ages 12 And Up

STAMFORD, CT—Community Health Center, Inc. announced on Wednesday afternoon that they will begin administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12 and up at the Lord & Taylor vaccine super-site located at 110 High Ridge Rd. in Stamford.

Stamford Mayor David Martin said Tuesday night that adolescents will be able to get a shot at the Elmcroft site as well. For more information, click here.

On Tuesday night during Martin's weekly COVID update, Dr. Gerald Rakos from Stamford Hospital said that vaccinating the 12-15 age group is vital in the fight against the pandemic. He said that 85% of the country's population is now vaccine eligible.

"We're really getting to the point where we can get these numbers up to get to herd immunity or close to that," Rakos said. "If we don't get good penetration on this age group, it's leaving a huge swath of the population that's still susceptible and non-immune."

Rakos said he understands that there will be parental anxiety, and those who are hesitant about getting their children vaccinated should talk to their pediatricians.

"But there's a lot of experience with vaccines in kids. We've really impacted many, many diseases tremendously with vaccines," he said.
Life can begin to return to normal if more people get shots in the arm, especially children.

"Certainly [kids'] lives will return to normal to a certain extent, with camp, school sports teams, and maybe even dropping mask-wearing in certain situations," Rakos said.

Assistant Superintendent of Stamford Public Schools, Dr. Michael Fernandes, said the district is working with the Stamford Department of Public Health and Community Health Centers to develop an inoculation plan. Information should be released soon.

Additionally, CVS Health announced on Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccine appointments for adolescents are now available for scheduling at more than 5,600 Pharmacy locations nationwide, including 45 CVS Pharmacies offering Pfizer across Connecticut. For more information, click here.