This story appeared in WOOD TV. Read more here.
Michigan kids as young as 12 are starting to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Federal health officials issued emergency approval this week to give Pfizer doses to children ages 12 to 15. Previously, it was available only to those 16 and up.
During a Thursday virtual press conference hosted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state’s chief medical executive, noted that federal recommendations say kids age 12 to 15 can get the COVID-19 vaccine on the same day they get other shots, so it will be convenient for parents who only have to make one trip.
“These vaccines are the path forward to doing the things that we love with the people that we love,” Khaldun said.
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, who became well-known for her work during the Flint water crisis, had her daughters — age 12 and 15 — vaccinated during the press conference.
“The COVID vaccine is safe, it is effective, it prevents disease and it saves lives,” Hanna-Attisha told other parents. “I would also say that I trust this vaccine so much that my own children have gotten this vaccine.”
She and other moms stressed that the vaccine is a way to help kids get back to normal and to finally be able to tell them yes when they previously had to say no.
Doctors say that in addition to protecting kids from the virus, the vaccine protects them from the threat of a rare complication called MIS-C, which can be deadly or have long-term consequences.
“This is scary and this is something that we don’t really completely understand yet in the medical profession,” Hanna-Attisha said, explaining MIS-C presents as inflammation in the heart, brain and skin.
Vaccinating more of the population will also help prevent the mutation of new variants and, of course, encourage herd immunity.
“We’ve never reached herd immunity in other infections such as smallpox, measles and polo. That’s not going to happen with this one either,” Spectrum Health Dr. Liam Sullivan, who specializes in infectious diseases, previously told News 8.
WHERE CAN MY CHILD GET VACCINATED?
CVS Health, Meijer, Rite Aid and Walgreens are all offering the shots to kids as young as 12. Go to their websites for appointment information. Meijer also has weekly walk-in doses available, though they are limited.
Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health will vaccinate 12- through 15-year-olds as walk-ins between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at its clinic on 60th Street at Patterson Avenue in Gaines Township.
Spectrum said kids are also welcome at a number of other upcoming community clinics. For those, you will need to set up an appointment, which you can do online or by calling 833.734.0016.
Spectrum Health COVID-19 drive-thru testing site
1300 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids
8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
Thornapple Kellogg Middle School
10375 Green Lake Road, Middleville
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Spectrum Health United Lifestyles
701 S. Greenville W. Drive, Greenville
3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday
Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital
605 Oak St., Big Rapids
3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday
Spectrum Health Pennock Hospital
1009 W. Green St., Hastings
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 20
Spectrum Health Zeeland Hospital
8333 Felch St., Zeeland
1 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 20
Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital
1 N. Atkinson Drive, Ludington
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 20
Spectrum Health Gerber Hospital
230 W. Oak St., Fremont
6 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 20
The Kent County Health Department will take appointments for kids at two upcoming clinics. You can schedule an appointment online or by calling 616.336.6992:
Kent County Health Department
700 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22
Grand Rapids Public Schools says its appointment-only vaccination clinics this week, run with help from the Kent County Health Department and Walgreens, are now open to children as young as 12:
Innovation Central High School
421 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids
2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday
Union High School
1800 Tremont Blvd. NW, Grand Rapids
2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday
Holland Hospital has doses available for kids as early as Thursday afternoon. You can schedule an appointment for between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday or 8:15 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Urgent Care at 3232 N. Wellness Drive Building B.
The Kalamazoo County Health and Human Services Department says every Pfizer clinic moving forward will welcome kids 12 and up. You can find one and schedule an appointment by going to the department’s website or calling 269.373.5200.
Bronson Healthcare in southwestern Michigan has scheduled an appointment-only clinic for 12- through 17-year-olds for Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at its clinic at 6901 Portage Road in Portage.
The Allegan County Health Department says kids can attend upcoming clinics either by appointment or as walk-ins:
Allegan High School
1560 M-40, Allegan
Appointments 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Walk-ins 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hamilton High School
4911 136th Ave, Hamilton
Appointments 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Walk-ins 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Ionia County Health Department says it will have appointments open for kids as early as next week. To schedule an appointment, go to the health department’s website or call 616.527.5341.