MI Teens Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine At 70 CVS Locations In State

LANSING, MI — Children 12 years old and up can receive doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday approved expanded use of the vaccine on that age group.

On Wednesday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the state would allow kids 12-15 to receive the Pfizer vaccine once the CDC signed off on the expanded use and already one pharmacy chain has announced it would begin that process.

CVS Pharmacy on Wednesday said would begin administering vaccines at select locations across the nation — including 70 in Michigan, pharmacy officials told Patch on Wednesday.

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“With every new wave of eligibility our teams have worked around the clock to ensure vaccine access as soon as possible,” said Karen Lynch, President and Chief Executive officer at CVS Health. “Offering vaccinations to younger populations at thousands of locations across the country brings us one step closer to prevailing over the pandemic.”

The participating CVS Pharmacy locations will begin administering the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday. Appointments can be made online beginning Wednesday, however. Appointments also can be made through the CVS app and walk-ins also are accepted, according to a spokesperson with the pharmacy.

Officials said parental or legal guardian consent is required due to the age of the people being vaccinated, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

A government advisory committee recommended Pfizer's vaccine for children 12 and older on Wednesday, after the Food and Drug Administration expanded authorization of the shots to the age group earlier in the week.

The move comes at a good time, some Michigan health officials said on Wednesday. Dr. Srikar Reddy joined Whitmer at a news conference on Wednesday and said that while children between 12 and 15 years old aren't among a high-risk population, vaccinating them is key to controlling the spread of the virus and preventing the emergence of new variants.

"We're entering yet another new phase of the pandemic and there is light at the end of the tunnel," Reddy said.

As of Wednesday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Michigan stands at 869,512. The coronavirus death toll in the state grew to 18,355 on Wednesday, according to MDHHS data.

As of Saturday, Michigan had reported that 703,746 people in Michigan had recovered from the coronavirus.

Read more coronavirus coverage from Patch:

• Michigan Coronavirus Update: 2,171 New Cases, 17 More Deaths
• Michigan To Vaccinate Children Ages 12-15 If CDC Allows: Whitmer
  
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