Health leaders in Northern Michigan said Thursday that they are ready to vaccinate youths ages 12 and up against COVID-19.
The federal Centers for Disease Control gave the go-ahead for the Pfizer vaccine to be used for that age group earlier this week.
Jennifer Peacock, the health officer for the Health District of Northwest Michigan and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department, said her staff could now offer youth the shots.
Many of her departments’ vaccine clinics are open for walk-ins and do not require appointments. Still, she said, people should call ahead to make sure doses are available if they’re bringing a child.
The Pfizer vaccine is the only one authorized for children, Peacock said, and its strict cold-chain requirements mean it can’t be available at every clinic.
Dr. Josh Meyerson, the medical director for three local health departments in Northern Michigan, said that even though children are less likely to get severe symptoms of COVID-19 than older adults, they can still pass the coronavirus on to other people.
“The young adolescents, the 12-, 13-, and 14-year-olds, they certainly can get sick from COVID. They get infected, and they can spread the virus just like any of us can,” Meyerson said.