Officials Aim To Vaccinate All 31K Eligible Howard County Kids Against COVID-19

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — County officials have set a lofty goal - to vaccinate all children in Howard County ages 5 to 11 who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced the decision this week.

Howard County Health Department clinics began last week at Howard Community College at Duncan Hall and will be held five days a week from 3 to 7 p.m. as supply allows. Vaccines for kids age 5 to 11 years old also is available at local medical providers and pharmacies. Howard County Health Department and 14 providers received an initial shipment of 9,300 first and second doses of vaccine, which will fully immunize 4,650 children.

"We are here to emphasize to parents and families that this vaccine is safe and effective. At the end of the day, getting this group vaccinated is another step towards ending this pandemic. Howard County has been a leader in the state in our vaccination rates – with 95.4 percent of those 12+ with at least one dose and nearly 75 percent of our total population with at least one dose. We are closing the gap every day – and we are determined to reach every individual and family and encourage vaccination," Ball said during a news conference.

Ball recommended parents check first with their child’s pediatrician to see if the doctor is providing the COVID vaccine. If not, an appointment can be made with another vaccine provider (listed on the website) or with the county health department, he said.

"We have been anxiously awaiting the approval of vaccines for our youngest students and I am overjoyed that it is now available for 5- to 11-year-olds," Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael J. Martirano Ed.D. "I urge every parent and guardian to have a conversation with your child’s pediatrician about the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine for your child. Like we have with every other age group, I hope that Howard County will lead the state with the number of 5- to 11-year-olds who get vaccinated.”

Centennial Medical/FirstCall also is partnering with St. John’s Church in Columbia at 9055 Tamar Drive to provide the pediatric vaccine in addition to adult vaccines. There will be Spanish-speaking staff on site. The clinic will operate Tuesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The pediatric vaccine is given in two doses administered 21 days apart. The dosage is one-third of the adolescent and adult dose. Safety data from the trials found the most common reactions were pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache, Ball shared. Reactions were mostly mild or moderate. There were no serious adverse events related to the vaccine, including myocarditis or anaphylaxis. Most side effects went away within one to two days, he said.

"Vaccinating our children is yet another step towards controlling the virus and saving lives,” Howard County Health Officer Dr. Maura Rossman said. “I encourage all parents to consider this very safe and effective vaccine for their children."