Beginning Friday, November 5, Cook County Health (CCH) began vaccinating children age 5-11. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit: https://vaccine.cookcountyil.gov/.
The FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine for 5 - 11 year-olds on Friday, October 29 as a result of the CDC's Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation.
The dose for 5 - 11 year-olds is one-third of the adult Pfizer vaccine dose. This has been shown to elicit a robust immune response in young children with more than 90% efficacy in preventing symptomatic infection.
Children will be able to get vaccinated at all CCH community health centers and hospitals. The Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is in touch with the more than 700 schools throughout suburban Cook County to partner on vaccination clinics. CCDPH is also communicating with pediatricians and family doctors to provide the vaccine.
The inclusion of the 5-11 age group means that 94 percent of suburban Cook County residents are now eligible for vaccination. CCDPH will track communities as they cross the 70 percent vaccinated rate - an important milestone that will help in the task of vaccinating as many residents as possible.
For more information about where to get a vaccine, visit MyShotCookCounty.com.
Should you need any assistance locating a vaccine, please reach out to our office (847) 729-9300.