With Monday’s news that the FDA has extended emergency use authorization to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids age 12-15, North Central Public Health District is taking steps to get the vaccine to that population.
Our first step was to open a waiting list for those 12-15 years old, to get a sense of interest in the vaccine. Over 100 kids were on the list by Friday morning.
Now, vaccine clinics aimed at youth 12 and up and their families are planned at four schools in the health district’s three-county service area of Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties.
Our mobile clinic will be visiting Deschutes Rim Clinic in Maupin this Saturday, May 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. If anyone is interested in the Pfizer vaccine at this clinic, please call the health district at 541-506-2600.
We will have Pfizer clinics at Dufur School on May 19, The Dalles Middle School May 22, Arlington High School May 25, and Sherman County High School on May 26.
To register for the Pfizer clinic in Arlington, call the school at 541-454-2632. To register for the clinic at Sherman County High School, call the school at 541-565-3500.
To sign up for the Dufur event or the event at The Dalles Middle School, please visit https://www.ncphd.org/book-vaccine and select “Schedule Pfizer Vaccine Appointment” to book your own appointment. Select either the Dufur School event or The Dalles Middle School event.
If you have questions, please call 541-506-2600.
Those families who were placed on the waiting list will be emailed a link to the booking system.
Parents of children 12-14 years old must be present when their child is vaccinated. Children 15 and older can book their own appointment.
In trials with 12- to 15-year-olds, the Pfizer vaccine was 100 percent effective at preventing COVID in the vaccinated participants. The placebo group of participants had 16 cases of COVID, while the vaccine group of participants had zero cases of COVID.
The most commonly reported side effects in the adolescent clinical trial participants, which typically lasted 1-3 days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain.
Oregon authorized the use of the vaccine in those 12 and up beginning Thursday, May 13.
(For more information, please visit COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon, contact North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600, visit us on the web at www.ncphd.org or find us on Facebook.)