DCHD To Focus On Kids' COVID-19 Vaccines, Close Community Clinic

WHEATON, IL — DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) plans to close its community coronavirus vaccination clinic at DuPage County Fairgrounds Nov. 22 and shift focus to providing vaccines to children who are between the ages of five and 11 years old.

On Wednesday, Illinois public health officials recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five through 11 years old. The Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine for children five and older in late October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the shot for children in that age group as of Tuesday.

“We have been planning for the availability of the vaccine for younger children for months,” DCHD Executive Director Karen Ayala said in a news release.“Protecting our children from severe outcomes associated with COVID-19 infection and reducing community transmission of COVID-19 are important steps in addressing the serious impacts this pandemic has had on our community."

Related: Kids' COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Planned At Wheaton Park District

Ayala mentioned that 80 percent of DuPage County residents who are 12 or older had been fully vaccinated against coronavirus. She added, "The decision to close the community vaccination clinic was made because we recognize this would not be the best care setting to meet the unique needs of the 5 to 11-year-old population."

Instead, residents with children in that age group will be able to schedule pediatric vaccine appointments at its public health centers starting Nov. 15.

Click the link to register for a coronavirus vaccine in DuPage County.