Two clinics are scheduled for this week.
Frederick, Md. (KM) – COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held in Frederick County for children between the ages of six months to four years of age. The Health Department has scheduled these clinics for Friday, June 24th and Tuesday, June 28th at 585 Himes Avenue in Frederick from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on both days.
Spokeswoman Rissah Watkins says other clinics will be added weekly.
She also says these clinics are only for little children, not adults or teenagers. “It’s very important that people make appointments for these specific clinics. We’re not accepting walk-ins because we need to make things run as smoothly as possible when we’re dealing with the little children here,” says Watkins.
The vaccines are free, and no insurance is required.
She says the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be administered to these small children. “Both the FDA–the Food and Drug Administration–and the Centers for Disease Control have gone through all of the computer work, all of the clinical trials, and results, and they do feel that the efficacy of these vaccines is adequate and important,”: she says.
These kids will be given smaller doses then what is given to teenagers and adults. Moderna requires two doses spaced out one month apart, and Pfizer requires three doses: the second one will be administered three weeks after the first dose, and the third dose at least eight weeks after the second dose.
Even though a lot of adults have come down with COVID-19, Watkins says small children are not immune to this virus. “More hospitalizations and deaths have occurred in this age group—children under five—as a result of COVID infections than from any other infectious disease,” she says. “So this is a serious issue for our young children as well.”
Parents who want to make an appointment for their small children can call 1-855-MDGoVAX or 1-855-634-6829 between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM seven days as week. They can also go on line to FrederickCountyMD.gov/Covid/Vaccine. Parents can also speak with their family physician or pediatrician about scheduling vaccinations for their children.
By Kevin McManus