Milwaukee City Wire

Vaccine clinics for children ages 5-11 will be available throughout Milwaukee as Mayor Tom Barrett encourages parents to consider vaccinating their children.

“Starting Monday, @MKEHealth is teaming up with @MilwaukeeMPS, private schools – including @SetonSchoolsMKE – and @childrenswi to offer vaccinations to children ages 5-11,” Barrett tweeted Nov. 6, stating the 22 clinics will be available at a wide range of schools across Milwaukee. “I encourage every parent of an eligible child to seek good information, talk to medical professionals and make good decisions about vaccinations. Let’s #CrushCovidMKE.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the FDA recently authorized emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as five years old. Four days later, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 14-0 to approve emergency use of the vaccine in children with a dose that is one-third of the adult dose.

While WISN 12 reported that dozens of children in the newly authorized age range have already received their first dose of the vaccine, AAP states there are around 28 million children aged 5-11 that may be vaccinated.

Children receiving the vaccine will need their second dose about 21 days after receiving their first dose, AAP states. The CDC recommends vaccination for all children, including those who have previously been infected with COVID-19.

No one under the age of 10 in Wisconsin has died from the coronavirus, but according to the CDC, 94 children between the ages 5-11 died from the virus nationwide as of Oct. 16.