Adolescent Vaccinations 'Critical' To End Pandemic: DuPage Health

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — The DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is urging parents to vaccinate children against coronavirus after the FDA and CDC gave the green light for kids ages 12 to 15 years old to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

DCHD will start administering the Pfizer vaccine for children in this age group May 17. “Vaccinating our adolescents is a high priority and will be critical in our efforts to put an end to this pandemic and protect the health and well-being of our residents,” DCHD Executive Director Karen Ayala said in a news release.

Ayala added, “The studies show this vaccine is safe and highly effective in children. We encourage parents to get themselves and their eligible children vaccinated as soon as they are able. Vaccinations will help protect our children and get them back to their friends and activities they love.”

Click the link to register your child for the coronavirus vaccine via DuPage County Health Department.

Some local vaccine providers have begun vaccinating 12- to 15-year-olds as of Thursday. These providers include:

• Advocate Aurora Health
• AMITA Health
• Benedictine University
• DuPage Medical Group
• Jewel-Osco
• Kane County Health Department
• Lake County Health Department
• Pediatrust
• Will County Health Department

Starting May 17, walk-in appointments are also available at DuPage County Health Department's Community Vaccination Clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

On May 10, the FDA expanded its emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine to children ages 12 to 15 years old. The CDC followed suit by recommending the vaccine for this age group as of May 12.

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