Boulder County parents and guardians can now get their children ages 5-11 vaccinated against COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave final approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children on November 2, 2021.

Children will receive a smaller dose of the Pfizer vaccine specifically formulated for them which is one-third of the dose given to adults and adolescents. Like adults who received Pfizer, a second dose will be required three weeks after they receive their first dose.

There are about 23,500 children ages 5-11 in Boulder County who are now eligible to get vaccinated at pharmacies, public health clinics and health care providers throughout the county.

Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) expects initial demand for the vaccine to be high and to outpace supply. At this time, almost all providers are requiring appointments for 5-11 vaccinations.

“We want all Boulder County kids to get vaccinated, but it may take some time, so we ask everyone be patient,” said Chris Campbell, Boulder County Public Health Emergency Management Coordinator. “Vaccine providers are working hard to arrange clinics specifically for young people, which require more time and specific requirements for this dosing of vaccine. At the same time, providers are addressing other needs related to the pandemic, such as providing booster shots, and many are also dealing with staff shortages.”

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and provides a high level of protection against severe illness or hospitalization. The vaccine provides more than 90% protection against symptomatic disease for children who are 5-11.

“The Pfizer vaccine has gone through the same testing requirements and multistep approval process as other vaccines, such as polio,” said Campbell. “The COVID-19 vaccine is also safe for children to receive with other vaccines, such as the flu shot, on the same visit.”

Some children may experience mild side effects from the vaccine, including redness, swelling and pain in the arm where they got the shot, as well as tiredness, muscle aches, headache, nausea, fever and chills. These side effects are normal and should go away within a few days. Some children may have no side effects at all. Each child’s immune system is unique and will react differently. If you have any concerns or questions, talk to your pediatrician or health care provider.

Information and resources to help parents prepare for their child’s vaccination appointment, including information on how to make appointments, are available at boco.org/ children-and-teens.

A limited number of vaccinations will be provided by BCPH, intended to support families who may have trouble accessing vaccinations through pharmacies or health care providers. Appointments are required for children between ages 5-11 to get vaccinated at a BCPH clinic, and children must come to the clinic with a parent, guardian or someone who is over 18 years old with an acceptable form of permission from a guardian or parent, which includes:

A signed note from a parent or guardian

Verbal consent from a parent or guardian over the phone

A signed form in which the accompanying person swears they have been given permission to act as the child’s guardian (forms will be provided at the clinic)

The number of children contracting COVID-19 is substantial and is expected to rise as colder weather brings events and activities indoors. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), reports a total of 39,232 cases of COVID-19 in people between the ages of 5 -11, and 213 of those have been hospitalized. Due to the highly contagious Delta variant, this year Boulder County is seeing more cases and hospitalizations among children as compared to last year.

Vaccines are distributed within Colorado according to priorities set by the state, which are subject to change. BCPH provides an up-to-date list of providers and clinics in Boulder County at boco.org/CovidVaccine.

If you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine for children ages 5-11, contact Boulder County Call Center at 720-776-0822, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.