COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Available For RIers Aged 12-15

PROVIDENCE, RI — Vaccine appointments are now available to young teens in Rhode Island. The change comes just hours after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave Pfizer emergency use authorization for administration to 12-to-15-year-olds.

"COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective," Gov. Dan McKee said. "I’m urging all parents to get their 12- to 15-year-olds vaccinated. This vaccine will help keep kids, families, and our community safe."

Rhode Island's vaccine scheduling portal shows availability to residents aged 12 and older at clinics as soon as Tuesday. Sites around the state, including the mass vaccination sites at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Sockanosset Cross Road in Cranston Simpson's Pharmacy in Newport all have Pfizer availability this week.

Parents or guardians are asked to make vaccine appointments on their child's behalf, and are encouraged to attend the vaccine appointment with them.

Vaccine appointments are recommended, but not required at vaccine sites across Rhode Island. Walk-ins are also accepted.

Clinical trials in younger teens proved to be remarkably effective, with no cases of COVID-19 identified in the test group, compared to 18 cases in the placebo group. More than 2,000 Americans aged 12 to 15 years old were involved in the study, according to the Associated Press.

"The Pfizer vaccine was rigorously studied before it was made available to children 12 to 15 years of age, and we are doing ongoing monitoring after administering more than 100 million doses to adults in the U.S. over the last five months," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. "Getting the child in your life vaccinated against COVID-19 is one of the most important things you can do to make sure their summer is healthy and safe."

At this time, only Pfizer vaccines are available to anyone aged 12 to 17 years old. The other two vaccines, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, are only authorized for use in adults.