COVID vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds soon available at local health departments

(WSIL)---Local health departments are prepping for the approval of Pfizer's vaccine.

After the FDA's emergency approval for 12 to 15 year olds, health departments that carry the Pfizer vaccine are just waiting for the green light from the CDC.

But not every health department will be able to vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds.

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Not every health department can vaccinate minors

Jackson and Egyptian health departments are standing by, ready to give out vaccines to the new age group.

These health departments are prepared for the new age group, as the demand for vaccines has gone down over the last few weeks.

But other health departments, like Cape Girardeau County, can only encourage others to get vaccinated.

This is because they do not have the resources to store the Pfizer vaccine.

"We do not actually have the capacity to hold the Pfizer vaccine here at the health center. So we'll mostly be promoting the facilities that do have it, which they can be found on that ," said Maria Davis from Cape Girardeau County Health Department.

For those that live in Southeast Missouri, Southeast Health does have Pfizer vaccines and distributes them at their clinics on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Process

Some health departments in our area will be ready by as early as Wednesday night.

Jackson County will give vaccines at their normal clinics at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Egyptian Health has walk in appointments at their offices, and Southern Seven health department will have pop up clinics starting this weekend at Vienna and Massac County High Schools.

And the procedure for the clinics is practically identical to the process for those over 16 years old.

"The process will be similar to the way it is now for the 16 and 17 year olds. So we require them to come in with a parent or legal guardian who has to sign a consent form. And then they go through the rest of the clinic much like an adult will," said Bart Hagston from the Jackson County Health Department.