Town Of Arlington: Over A Thousand Kids Age 5-11 Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

Press release from Town of Arlington:

11/09/2021 11:16 AM

Director of Health & Human Services Christine Bongiorno and Superintendent Elizabeth Homan are pleased to announce that more than 1,100 children ages 5 to 11 received their first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic over the weekend. The clinic was held on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Arlington High School, in partnership with Arlington Health & Human Services and Arlington Public Schools.

"The turnout at this weekend's clinic was truly astounding, and we are thrilled at the continued interest in vaccinating children against COVID-19," Director Bongiorno said. "The success of this clinic would not have been made possible without our staff who worked so diligently to organize it. I thank them for their hard work and look forward to more clinics in the future."

The clinic administered first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was recently approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration for those ages 5 to 11. Approximately 75 volunteers from Arlington Health & Human Services, Arlington Public Schools, Town offices, and the Medical Reserve Corps staffed the clinic.

"Vaccinating the youngest members of our population is an important step in bringing life at school back to normal," said Superintendent Homan. "We encourage any parent or guardian who has not yet vaccinated their child to do so as soon as they are able."

People age 5 and older who live, work, or study in Massachusetts can get vaccinated against COVID-19. People ages 5-17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine. People age 18 and older can get any vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. You don't need an ID or insurance to get it. Book an appointment on vaxfinder.mass.gov. Local options including CVS and Walgreens.

Additional clinics will be announced in the coming weeks when vaccine doses are provided to the Town. Any future Town run clinics will be posted on the Town's website at arlingtonma.gov/covid19, broadcast in a Town Notice email, as well as a letter from Superintendent Homan announcing clinics.

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.