North Central Health District

North Central Health District County Health Departments now Administering COVID-19 Vaccines to Ages 5 and Up

Posted November 9, 2021 by Michael Hokanson

North Central Health District’s (NCHD) 13 county health departments are now administering the Pfizer COVID-19 pediatric vaccine for ages 5-11.

With this new update, all NCHD health departments now offer COVID-19 vaccination for ages 5 and older.

COVID-19 vaccination is available at each county health department based on the following schedule:

In addition to the scheduled COVID-19 vaccine clinics, each health department offers COVID-19 vaccination by appointment. To schedule an appointment, call your local health department.

Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine contains a smaller dose of the vaccine using the same active ingredients as the one given to adults and older children. The pediatric vaccine is administered to children using a smaller needle, specially designed for children.

The lower dose has been shown to produce milder side effects in kids. Common side effects of COVID-19 vaccination include:

• soreness at injection site,
• headache,
• muscle aches,
• and low-grade fever.

Serious side effects are rare, but may occur. Parents are encouraged to speak with their child’s pediatrician about COVID-19 vaccination.

There is no out-of-pocket cost for COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of insurance status. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive vaccination. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine currently authorized for ages 5 and older. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are authorized for ages 18 and up.

For more information on pediatric COVID-19 vaccination, talk with your child’s pediatrician or visit CDC’s COVID-19 vaccines for children and teens webpage. To find vaccination locations near you, visit vaccines.gov.