COVID Vaccines For Kids Under 12 Will Be Available In Somerset County Friday

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Somerset County's Department of Health will begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years on Friday.

Clinics will be available on Friday, Nov. 5, 12, and 19 at the Somerset County Senior Wellness Center at 876 East Main St. in Bridgewater. The clinics will have first dose walk-in appointments ONLY for children ages 5 to 11-years old from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Previously scheduled 2nd dose appointments for Pfizer and Moderna will also be accommodated at these clinics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11-years old on Tuesday. Some vaccine providers, including CVS and Walgreens, already have online appointments open to 5 to 11-year-olds in New Jersey. Read More: COVID Vaccine For Kids Under 12 (Where To Get One In NJ)

The Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine for children ages 5 to 11-years old will be a two-dose series, with 21 days between the first dose and second dose. Eligible children must have parental or legal guardian consent, a parent or guardian present during vaccination, and Somerset County residency to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at one of Somerset County’s COVID-19 pediatric vaccination clinics.

All Somerset County COVID-19 vaccination clinics are listed at co.somerset.nj.us/vaxclinics.

Currently, Somerset County has 238,746 fully vaccinated residents, representing 74.8 percent of the 12 and older population and 84.5 percent of all residents. Both are the highest percentages for any county in the state of New Jersey.

"Children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, can get sick from COVID-19, and can spread COVID-19 to others. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and vaccinating the whole family age five and older can protect loved ones of all ages," according to Somerset County.

To reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Somerset County recommends getting vaccinated with an approved vaccine and follow everyday healthy habits.

The following interventions may also help stop the spread of coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases:

• Wear a mask in indoor settings regardless of vaccination status if over two years of age when in locations where there may be a high rate of transmission
• Maintain distance from others – at least two arm’s length apart
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Cover coughs and sneezes, and
• Monitor health daily and stay home when sick

For more information visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health and the Somerset County Department of Health at co.somerset.nj.us/health.

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