CVS, Rite Aid Offer COVID-19 Vaccines To Ohioans 12 And Older

OHIO — With the Pfizer vaccine approved for use in children as young as 12, Ohio has begun vaccinating some of its youngest residents.

The state started vaccinating children as young as 12 on Thursday, per Gov. Mike DeWine's orders. Two major retail pharmacies, CVS and Rite Aid, have already announced they'll provide vaccines to teenagers.

“Opening eligibility for those 12 and older is a major step forward in the effort to get as many people vaccinated as possible and help bring an end to the pandemic,” said Jim Peters, chief operating officer, Rite Aid.

Read more: $1 Million Giveaways: Ohioans Can Win Big For Getting Vaccinated

Appointments are available through both the CVS and Rite Aidwebsites.

Ohio's first mass vaccination clinic, hosted at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland, will offer first dose Pfizer vaccines to Ohioans 12 and older starting May 18. Anyone under 18 who is receiving a vaccine must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

"Those who are not vaccinated remain prey to the virus. We hope for a good summer, but we also have to be able to get through the dark days of winter safely. To do that, we need a much higher percentage of Ohioans to be vaccinated," Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday.