Health officials in Nebraska say they’re expecting 64,200 initial doses of the coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 – enough to cover nearly 35% of the 186,200 Nebraska children who fall in that age range.
Acting Nebraska Health and Human Services Director Don Herrington recommends getting kids vaccinated with retail pharmacies and more than 900 providers such as pediatricians and community health clinics providing shots.
Herrington says pediatric vaccinations will also be available in some areas at special vaccination clinics arranged with schools and local health care providers.
One such clinic will be held in Chadron a week from Monday on Nov 15 from 5:00-7:00 in the Chadron High School Library. Flu shots will also be offered.
The clinic is for ages 5 and up, but a parent or guardian must be present. Entry will be through the main entrance by the high school office.
Panhandle Public Health District Director Kim Engel is also encouraging parents to get their kids 5-and-older vaccinated and warns that there’s a lot of vaccine misinformation out there and especially targeted at parents.
Engel says that “as a grandma,” she urges everyone not to believe everything they see or read online, but to instead seek answers from credible sources such as your family doctor, a school nurse, a pharmacist or PPHD,
Engel says the Pfizer COVID vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing COVID in children 5-to-11 and that getting them vaccinated will not only help protect them against the coronavirus but also reduce disruptions to in-person learning and group activities