How to get a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5 in the Columbus area
For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, young children can now get vaccinated for the virus.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorization to COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for kids ages 6 months to 5 years old. They're the last age group to be approved for the shots, following children ages 5 to 11, who were able to begin getting vaccinated in November.
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The emergency approval was granted June 17, and shots are already available locally for the youngest Ohioans. COVID vaccines remain free to anyone seeking one.
One way parents are able to search for a shot for their child is through the Ohio Department of Health's online database of providers. So far, more than 7.3 million Ohioans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, including 896,122 ages 0 to 19, according to the state health department.
Below is detailed information for some providers in the Columbus area.
Getting a coronavirus vaccine in Columbus
Columbus Public Health is offering the Pfizer vaccine to young children. The health department expects to have the Moderna vaccine available in the coming weeks, said spokeswoman Kelli Newman.
Pediatric vaccines are available at all of the city health department's regular COVID-19 vaccine clinics, Monday through Friday.
The clinic at Columbus Public Health headquarters at 240 Parsons Ave. runs Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the city.
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More information on clinics can be found on the Columbus Public Health website.
On Saturday, Columbus Public Health will host a special Saturday COVID vaccine clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its 240 Parsons Ave. location.
No appointment is necessary for any of the city health department's clinics.
Getting a COVID shot in Franklin County
Franklin County Public Health hosts COVID vaccine clinics on various Thursdays and Fridays each month, according to the organization's website.
One clinic is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank's pantry at 3960 Brookham Dr. in Grove City. Clinics are also scheduled for the same time and location on July 8, 14, 15, 22, 28 and 29.
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Appointments are required for kids ages 6 months to 5 years, according to the health department. Appointments can me made online.
Franklin County Public Health is offering the Moderna vaccine to kids ages 6 months to 5 years of age.
Getting a COVID-19 shot at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Nationwide Children's Hospital is also administering the COVID-19 vaccine to kids ages 6 months and older.
Kids don't need to be patients in order to get vaccinated at Nationwide Children's, spokeswoman Katelyn Scott said via email. Parents can go online to schedule an appointment for their child to get a COVID vaccine.
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Nationwide Children's is offering the Moderna vaccine to kids under the age of 5 and Pfizer to children ages 5 and older, Scott said. Pfizer vaccination is available upon request for kids younger than 5 and staff are available to discuss the differences between the two vaccines with parents.
The hospital is only offering COVID vaccinations during its clinic times and families seeking a flu shot or other vaccines should contact their primary care doctor, Scott said.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: COVID vaccine for kids under 5: Where to get the shot in Columbus
