DAYTON — With the U.S. potentially just weeks away from more people being eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, local health departments are getting ready for the roll out.
The FDA’s Advisory Committee is 12 days away discussing the authorization of vaccines in kids 5 to 12 years old.
“We have been planning for this since the vaccines came out,” said Laurie Fox with Greene County Public Health.
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According to Fox, Greene County Public Health is currently discussing what the vaccine rollout for kids will look like locally.
“We’re in discussion to extend hours to meet parents needs for after school to get kids to a clinic to have them vaccinated,” Fox said.
They are also looking for ways to make the shot less intimidating for those under the age of 12.
“We’re taking into consideration that these are children and vaccines are scary,” Fox said. “We’re ordering fun things. Fun band-aids and stickers as a reward for kids for being vaccinated.”
In Montgomery County, Public Health – Dayton and Montgomery County’s Dan Suffoletto said the roll out will be different for kids than what’s been seen for adults.
“Public Health for adults, running large scale vaccine clinics with hundreds of people coming through a day, that’s something that’s not practical for kids because they need that special attention and care, particularly people as young as five years old,” Suffoleto said.
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Instead of those mass vaccine clinics, parents will need to find doctors and pharmacies who will be giving out the shot.
“Each provider will have their own procedures and ways children can be vaccinated under different conditions. So, that will be up to the individual provider,” Suffoletto said.
President Joe Biden has mentioned rolling out the vaccine for those under 12 in schools. Suffoletto said he’s not sure if that’s something that will happen in Montgomery County.
However, Fox said they are talking about doing that in Greene County.
“I don’t know what that will bring forth, but we are is discussion now,” Fox said.
The FDA is expected to meet and discuss vaccines in kids on Oct. 26.
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