Dayton Children’s starts COVID vaccines for ages 5-11 today

Dayton Children’s Hospital will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to children 5 to 11 beginning today.

“We’re excited for the chance to protect kids between 5 and 11 and whose families want them protected,” Dr. Adam Mezoff, chief medical officer and vice president at Dayton Children’s, said last week. “Kids are not little adults and the team at Dayton Children’s is uniquely prepared to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to this age group. By getting this group vaccinated, we’re one step closer to putting an end to this pandemic.”

The coronavirus clinics will be offered at:

  • Dayton Children’s main campus, 1 Children’s Plaza in Dayton, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 20
  • Dayton Children’s south campus, 333 W. Tech Road, Miamisburg, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday
  • University of Dayton Arena, 1801 Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14

Older children are welcome to come to the Nov. 14 clinic to receive their vaccine at the same time as their younger siblings, as well as parents. Specialized staff will also be available to help children who haver sensory needs. Those who are not bringing a child to the Nov. 14 vaccine clinic are asked to look at other clinics for an appointment.

The hospital received its first shipment of the Pfizer pediatric vaccine formulation Tuesday but waited to start administering shots because state needed time to change its scheduling website to allow the younger age group to sign up. Also, any child immunized last week would have to return during the Thanksgiving holiday week for the second dose, which hospital officials said may be difficult for some families.

“Remember that vaccination is not new – it has helped humans fight infectious diseases for centuries,” Mezoff said. “We’ve controlled diseases like polio, whooping cough and measles, all due to vaccination. It’s time to add COVID-19 to this list.”

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