Kids’ doses of COVID vaccine will come to NC in phases. How to get an appointment.
Children ages 5 to 11 can now get a COVID-19 shot, and rollout of pediatric doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will happen in waves in North Carolina.
On Tuesday, after CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on a recommendation for the Pfizer COVID vaccine in children, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the first waves of pediatric vaccine are expected to reach North Carolina providers within nine business days, with some in Wave 1 being delivered as early as Nov. 3.
Until now, the Pfizer vaccine had only been authorized for emergency use in those ages 12 to 15. It received full approval from the FDA for those age 16 and up in August.
Here’s more information on when North Carolina will get the vaccine doses for kids and how to get an appointment.
How can my child get a COVID vaccine appointment?
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is free for children and adults, regardless of insurance or immigration status. People may be asked to bring insurance cards so companies can be billed for administrative costs.
According to NC DHHS, vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 are being delivered to North Carolina on a rolling basis. Here are the spots where you can get a shot for your children.
▪ NC DHHS recommends finding participating local pharmacies and medical centers through the DHHS MySpot.nc.gov website.
The health department search will take you to a map showing the sites. You can do a search by ZIP code or browse the list there. You should see a phone number and website link for each location.
▪ Walgreens will begin administering the COVID vaccine to children in select stores on Nov. 6. Visit the website to schedule an appointment locally: walgreens.com
▪ CVS Pharmacies will start giving the shots to children on Nov. 7. You can visit the CVS website to schedule an appointment: cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine/kids
▪ Call your child’s pediatrician. DHHS warns that the list on their site may be incomplete, so it’s also a good idea to check with your child’s pediatrician.
▪ You can also call the North Carolina Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567 (7 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. on weekends) if you need help.
▪ You can also text your ZIP code to 438829 to find a vaccine location near you.
▪ In Wake County, the public health department is now taking appointments for all five clinics with appointments to begin Monday, Nov. 8. These new clinics have been set up to accommodate any children ages 5-17, so that parents are able to conveniently group appointments for their children of multiple ages at one site.
A special website, WakeGov.com/kids, has information for families and a link for signing up for their children’s COVID-19 protection. The website also has answers to common questions. When they arrive, guardians will be asked to fill out a brief a consent form for children 15 years old and younger.
▪ In Orange County, the Health Department will be offering pop-up vaccine clinics for 5- to 11-year-olds by appointment only on Thursday, Nov. 4, and Friday, Nov. 5, from 4-8 p.m. Call 919-913-8088 or visit takemyshot.nc.gov to schedule.
StarMed is offering vaccination clinics at Orange County Schools in evenings. Go to https://unityphr.com/campaigns/starmed/vaccine.
Hillsborough Pharmacy is offering vaccination appointments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays by appointment only. 919-245-1212 or visit www.indycarehealth.com.
Village Pediatrics is offering vaccination appointments Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. 919-969-9611 or visit www.villagepediatrics.com.
▪ The Johnston County Public Health Department will give shots starting Thursday, Nov. 4 at 9 a.m. Shots will be given at the health department Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are accepted.
A clinic will be held Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those 5 to 18, at the health department at 517 N. Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield. Celtic Creamery of Smithfield will be selling ice cream.
When will the vaccine for kids be available in NC?
According to NC DHHS, the initial waves of pediatric vaccine are anticipated to be delivered to North Carolina providers within nine business days following EUA issuance.
▪ Wave 1 anticipated between 1-5 business days, Wave 2 between 3-7 business days, and Wave 3 between 5-9 business days following EUA issuance.
▪ Nearly all allocations for Wave 1 have been delivered already or will be delivered on Nov. 3, says DHHS, and as shipments for the next waves are en route, the department anticipates that vaccine will begin to be delivered over the coming days.
▪ By the end of Nov. 3, 218 North Carolina state vaccine providers will have a supply from state allocations, says DHHS.
“The program will ramp up over the coming days, and (be) fully up and running during the week of November 8,” a DHHS spokesperson said via email.
Learn more about the COVID vaccine for kids at newsobserver.com.
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 2:21 PM.
