Where Kids 5-11 Can Get The COVID-19 Vaccine Around Cinnaminson

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Pfizer's pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is now available for kids ages 5 to 11, granting about 28 million children in the United States the ability to get inoculated against the virus.

But many vaccination sites that offer the Pfizer doses still only give shots to people 12 and older (the dose is smaller for the younger age group). Here's where parents and guardians can get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Cinnaminson area:

• ShopRite, 892 Union Mill Road in Mount Laurel;
• CHOP Care Network, 3201 Marne Highway in Mount Laurel;
• Boyd’s Pharmacy, 5 Wilkins Station Road in Medford;
• Miguel’s Pharmacy, 3213 River Road in Camden; and
• Cooper University Hospital, 1 Cooper Plaza in Camden.

Due to high demand, appointment availability can change rapidly, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Check New Jersey's COVID-19 vaccine finder for information on each site.

Burlington County is also hosting a three-day vaccine clinic for children this weekend. Read more here: Kids 5-11 Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine At Burlington County Clinic

State officials ordered 203,800 doses for more than 230 sites, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday. New Jersey also received 51 requests for school-endorsed vaccination events in 14 counties since Oct. 21, she said.

"We know that parents have concerns and want to do what's best for their children," Persichilli said. "We also know that COVID does affect children. While case rates are declining across the state and the nation, younger children are now the predominant positive cases."

These concerns include the speed with which the trials were conducted, but State Medical Examiner Dr. Edward Lifshitz called that a "tribute to the scientists working on the vaccine who conducted years of research, and the volunteers who participated in the trials."

"While nothing is 100 percent without risk, these are clearly safe vaccines," Lifshitz said. "There's nothing to suggest they're any riskier in this age group than any other age group."

COVID-19 cases in children can result in hospitalizations, deaths, MIS-C (inflammatory syndromes) and long-term complications, such as "long COVID," in which symptoms can linger for months, the CDC said.

The spread of the delta variant resulted in a surge of COVID-19 cases in children throughout the summer. During a 6-week period in late June to mid-August, COVID-19 hospitalizations among children and adolescents increased fivefold, the CDC announcement said.

With reporting from Karen Wall/Patch