(Chelsea Update would like to thank Susan Ringler-Cerniglia for the information in this story.)
The Washtenaw County Health Department will began providing COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6 months through four years old on June 23 by appointment only.
Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines will be available. A parent or guardian must be present for the child to be vaccinated.
Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were authorized and recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week. Parents interested in getting the COVID-19 vaccine for their child are encouraged to talk to their child’s pediatrician to get any questions answered.
Health Department COVID-19 vaccine clinics are currently appointment-only. Schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for all eligible ages online or by calling 734-544-6700 and leaving a message. We expect to be able to welcome walk-ins without appointments in the coming weeks.
There are many providers across the county giving COVID-19 vaccines. It may take a few more days for other providers to be able to offer vaccines to this age group. Parents and guardians can also search on vaccines.gov to find vaccine appointments for their younger children.
The Health Department recommends that everyone eligible get vaccinated against COVID-19. In clinical trials, vaccine side effects were mild and similar to those seen in adults and older children, as well as other vaccines that are recommended for children. The most common side effects were fatigue and a sore arm. The FDA report is available here for review.
Washtenaw County Health Department
The Washtenaw County Health Department promotes health and works to prevent disease and injury in our community. Our mission is to assure, in partnership with the community, the conditions necessary for people to live healthy lives through prevention and protection programs.
Local public health information and updates are always available at www.washtenaw.org/health. The Health Department also provides frequent social media updates (@wcpublichealth) and sends regular email updates, sign up at http://bit.ly/WCHD555.
