Children ages 5-11 can now get vaccinated against COVID-19 with Pfizer shots after U.S. health officials gave the final signoff to kid-size doses last week.
Clinical trials in this age group found the vaccine to be 90.7% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 when fully vaccinated with two doses.
Safety data from the trials showed no serious adverse events related to the vaccine. The most common reactions to the shots included pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache. Side effects were more common after dose two, usually mild in severity, and resolved within a few days.
Walgreens and CVS announced plans to offer shots at certain stores, and Giant Pharmacy is offering vaccinations for this age group at certain pharmacies. Here’s where and when you can find appointments.
Here's what we know about where the shots will be available in the D.C. area.
Washington, D.C.
D.C. officials announced in late October the city was set to receive 24,600 initial doses to be distributed to more than 60 pharmacies, hospitals and health centers.
Pharmacies, such as CVS, Giant, Grubb's, Safeway, Walgreens and Walmart, and clinics will be some of the first locations where children in this age group can get the vaccines, Mayor Muriel Bowser's office said.
CVS announced that 1,700 locations would begin offering shots to kids aged 5 to 11, including two locations in D.C. Schedule an appointment here.
D.C. will also hold pop-up clinics to distribute vaccines on the following dates:
Ward 1:
- Bancroft Elementary School, 1755 Newton St. NW. First dose: Nov. 9
- Marie Reed Elementary School, 2201 18th St. NW. First dose: Nov. 12
Ward 2:
- Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 16th St. NW. First dose: Nov. 7
- Garrison Elementary School, 1200 S St. NW. First dose: Nov. 17
- Thomson Elementary School, 1200 L St. NW. First dose: Nov. 12
Ward 3:
- Ben Murch Elementary School, 4810 36th St. NW. First dose: Nov.13
- Janney Elementary School, 4130 Albemarle St. NW. First dose: Nov. 19
- Palisades Recreation Center, 5200 Sherier Place NW. First dose: Nov.16
Ward 4:
- Center City Public Charter School - Brightwood Campus, 6008 Georgia Ave. NW. First dose: Nov. 9
- Dorothy I. Height Elementary School, 1300 Allison St. NW. First dose: Nov. 8
- E.L. Haynes PCS, 4501 Kansas Ave. NW. First dose: Nov. 18
- Lafayette Elementary School, 5701 Broad Branch Road NW. First dose: Nov. 19
- Whittier Elementary School, 6201 5th St. NW. First dose: Nov. 20
Ward 5:
- Bunker Hill Elementary School, 1401 Michigan Ave. NE. First dose: Nov. 18
- Center City Public Charter School - Trinidad Campus, 1217 West Virginia Ave. NE. First dose: Nov. 17
- DC Bilingual PCS, 33 Riggs Road NE. First dose: Nov. 20
- Noyes Elementary School, 2725 10th St. NE. First dose: Nov. 8
Ward 6:
- Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th St. NW. First dose: Nov. 10
- KIPP DC – Lead Academy PCS, 421 P St. NW. First dose: Nov.16
- Payne Elementary School, 1445 C St. SE. First dose: Nov.13
Ward 7:
- Friendship Blow Pierce Elementary & Middle, 725 19th St. NE. First dose: Nov. 12
- Kimball Elementary School, 3375 Minnesota Ave. SE. First dose: Nov. 9
- Plummer Elementary School, 4601 Texas Ave. SE. First dose: Nov. 17
- Smothers Elementary School, 1300 44th St. NE. First dose: Nov. 13
- Thomas Elementary School, 650 Anacostia Ave. NE. First dose: Nov. 19
Ward 8:
- Center City PCS: Congress Heights, 220 Highview Place SE. First dose: Nov. 18
- Excel Academy Public School, 2501 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. First dose: Nov. 16
- Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School/Statesman Academy, 4600 Livingston Road SE. First dose: Nov. 8
- KIPP DC Heights Academy, 2600 Douglass Road SE. First dose: Nov. 10
- Patterson Elementary School, 4399 South Capitol Terrace SW. First dose: Nov. 10
- Turner Elementary School, 3264 Stanton Road SE. First dose: Nov. 20
Community groups in D.C. may also request vaccine pop-ups here.
In addition to the pop-up locations, Children’s National Hospital will offer vaccines to some children throughout the city via its mobile unit, as well as its patients at its eight locations in the region.
MedStar Health is taking its mobile clinic to underserved communities in Wards 7 and 8. It plans to vaccinate children two days a week.
Maryland
CVS announced that 1,700 locations would begin offering shots to kids aged 5 to 11. Some appointments were available at select Maryland locations. Schedule an appointment here.
Walgreens is offering vaccines for younger kids at select locations. Appointments are highly encouraged.
Montgomery County:
Children can get vaccinated at county-run clinics, pharmacies, and other providers. Residents can use Maryland's vaccine locator to find a spot that offers the vaccine, or visit the county-run clinics listed here. Call 240-777-2982 or email c19vaccination@montgomerycountymd.gov for an appointment. More information is available at Montgomery County's COVID-19 Information Portal.
Prince George's County:
Free COVID-19 vaccines are available to children ages 5-11 at COVID-19 vaccination clinics, pediatricians’ offices, retail and grocery store pharmacies, urgent care facilities and other health care providers in the county. More than a dozen high schools and nearly 40 elementary schools are scheduled to host clinics. Go here for more information about the county's clinic locations, including free clinics at schools running through mid-December.
Frederick County:
Clinics will be held in some public elementary schools in the afternoons and early evenings by appointment, as well as at 800 Oak Street. Dates, times and links to schedule can be found here. Parents can also check with their children's doctors.
Virginia
INOVA Health will hold clinics at the Inova Center for Personalized Health in Fairfax, Virginia, every weekend. The hospital said it will bring in therapy dogs and "Star Wars" characters to help kids who might be anxious about getting the shot.
CVS says some Virginia locations are among 1,700 stores that will offer shots to kids aged 5 to 11. Schedule an appointment here.
Walgreens is offering vaccines for younger kids. Appointments are highly encouraged.
Arlington County:
Arlington County Public Health is offering free COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only to kids ages 5–11 years old at Walter Reed Community Center and Arlington Mill Community Center. Hours during the week of Nov. 8 are 2 p.m.–7 p.m. daily. Clinics exclusively for this age group will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.
Fairfax County:
The health department said it will provide the COVID-19 vaccine to children by appointment only. Pediatric and family medical practices will also have the vaccine, as well as local pharmacies and the Tysons Community Vaccination Center. Parents are encouraged to contact their children’s medical providers to make appointments. Families can go to www.vaccines.gov to schedule appointments at a local pharmacy or the health department. Those interested in getting their children vaccinated at the Tysons Community Vaccination Center will be able to schedule their children's appointments at vase.vdh.virginia.gov.
For more detailed locations, go here.
It is important that all children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive their COVID-19 vaccination, including at school clinics. As with all age groups, vaccines are free and insurance is not required.
Loudoun County:
The Loudoun County Health Department is vaccinating kids at the Dulles Town Center site. Appointments must be made on the county website — make sure to book your child for the correct age group or the appointment won’t be honored, officials say.
Medical offices and retail pharmacies were also expected to be options, officials said.
Stay with News4 for updates as this list continues to grow.
