COVID Vaccine For Kids Under 12: Where To Get One In Loudoun County

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Health Department is now offering appointments for children ages 5 to 11 to receive a free Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Beginning Thursday, parents interested in having their children vaccinated at the county’s Dulles Town Center site can schedule appointments online through the county’s website. The first available appointments for the 5-to-11 age group will be on Friday and Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

When scheduling an appointment for a 5- to-11-year-old, select the clinic named: “Ages 5-11 COVID-19 Vaccinations – Loudoun.” Appointments made in the 12-and-up clinic will not be honored for the younger age group.

“Beginning to vaccinate children under the age of 12 is an important milestone in the pandemic as this will help to further slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, improve the safety of the school environment and ultimately bring an end to the pandemic,” Loudoun County Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend said in a statement Thursday.

Goodfriend said the COVID-19 vaccine is proven safe and effective in this age group.

Anyone who needs assistance making an appointment, such as those who do not have access to the internet, should call the COVID-19 Information Line at 703-737-8300 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

People under 18 who have an appointment for a vaccination must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

SEE ALSO: COVID Vaccine For Kids Under 12: Where To Get One In Virginia

The Pfizer vaccine that will be used for 5- to-11-year-olds has the same active ingredient as that given to adults but will be provided in a different formulation due to its lower dosage. Loudoun County health officials expect that demand for the COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 to 11 will initially outpace supply and will limit the number of appointments available in the early days of the vaccination effort.

As vaccine supplies increase through the month of November, more appointments will open up. Parents are encouraged to continue looking for an appointment with any COVID-19 vaccine provider until they get one.

Other vaccine providers in Loudoun County, such as medical offices and retail pharmacies, are also expected to begin offering the Pfizer vaccine to children ages 5 to 11. These providers operate independently of Loudoun County. Parents and guardians may check with their pediatrician’s office or visit vaccines.gov to find other COVID-19 vaccine providers in the county.

Public health officials recommend getting children vaccinated as soon as possible once they become eligible to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The 5- to-11-year-old age group currently accounts for the bulk of COVID-19 cases in Loudoun County children.

In addition to offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11, Loudoun County continues to offer vaccination appointments to:

• Residents who are 12 and older and have not yet received their first and/or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
• Residents who are moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals and are recommended by the CDC for a third dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.
• Residents who are eligible for a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines.