The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued the anticipated recommendation for children aged 12 to 15 be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The CDC recommendation was the final step following the FDA issuing an Emergency Use Authorization on Monday allowing the Pfizer vaccine for younger children.
MORE: COVID-19 Vaccinations Open Up for Younger Children
Georgia’s Department of Public Health started vaccinating the younger children Tuesday.
Locally, Augusta University will start vaccinating patients 12 and older at its May 18 first-dose clinics.
“We still require online registration, but the dates, times and locations are not posted until we have vaccines available, so it’s necessary to keep checking back to see when the next clinic opens. We do not take walkups,” said Lisa Kaylor with AU Media Relations.
To learn more about clinic dates and locations, visit https://www.augustahealth.org/vaccine/
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In South Carolina, the Department of Health and Environmental Control chose to wait for the CDC recommendation.
“Immediately after this federal announcement, DHEC provided notification to all of our state’s vaccine providers with information about this federal recommendation as well as the current Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for administering the Pfizer vaccine to those 12 and older,” according to the DHEC website.
DHEC said it has had some 12 to 15-year-olds get vaccinated Thursday at its Community Vaccination Center site in Columbia.
MORE: Demand for COVID-19 Vaccination Continues to Decline
To find a COVID-19 vaccination site in South Carolina, visit https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-vaccine
Pfizer is approved for ages 12 and older. Moderna is approved for everyone 18 and older.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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