The Marion County Public Health Department opened a new COVID-19 vaccine clinic for 5- to 11-year-olds only. The clinic, located at 3685 Commercial Drive, is open 3-7 p.m. on the following days:
- Nov. 11
- Nov. 15
- Nov. 17
- Nov. 18
- Nov. 22
- Nov. 29
- Dec. 1
- Dec. 2
Walk-ins will be accepted, but the health department recommends making an appointment for faster service. Make an appointment by visiting ourshot.in.gov or calling 211.
Parental or guardian consent is required for a minor to get the vaccine. Parents and guardians will have the chance to name alternate caregivers who may chaperone the child or teen for the second dose. These caregivers must be 18 or older.
The clinic will offer the Pfizer vaccine only at the pediatric dose, so the vaccine will not be available for those ages 12 and older.
The vaccine became available for 5- to 11-year-olds last week, but the health department noticed adults were taking up many of the appointments officials assumed would go to children.
Health department Director Dr. Virginia Caine said in a recent interview the agency would consider a pediatrics-only clinic to ensure younger children have adequate access. She said there will likely open a second pediatrics-only clinic soon, and the health department may set up mass vaccine clinics in some schools if access still isn’t good enough.
Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853 or tylerf@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
