11/03/2021 3:12 PM

The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) will begin to hold COVID-19 clinics on select days at its Crystal Lake and Woodstock locations to vaccinate children who are 5 to 11 years old. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine approved for young children is a two-dose series that should be administered at least 21 days apart.

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MCDH will provide vaccine at 2200 N. Seminary Ave, Annex A, in Woodstock, and at 100 N. Virginia Street in Crystal Lake. An appointment must be made in advance and a parent or guardian must be present.

Appointments for the pediatric population are available on MCDH’s COVID-19 Vaccination Locations website. Children receiving the vaccine will need to show proof of their age (birth certificate, passport, school identification with their birthdate displayed or information provided by their school).

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Appointments are expected to fill up quickly. Pediatric clinics and 12 and older clinics offered by MCDH will be held on different days.

“Many parents have experienced loss of work and witnessed the emotional impact of COVID-19 on their children. Choosing the vaccine for our youngest children will lessen their chance of COVID-19 disease and hospitalizations,” said MCDH Medical Advisor Dr. Laura Buthod. “Common side effects experienced by children in this age group, which occur less frequently than older children and adults, are generally mild to moderate and include injection site pain (sore arm), redness and swelling, fatigue, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills and fever. Side effects usually occur within two days after vaccination and go away within a day or two.” 

The pediatric dose is one-third of the adult vaccine and has been proven to be 90% effective in youths who are 5 to 11 years old. Families with questions or concerns about their child getting a COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to speak with their child’s doctor.

Other locations administering the pediatric vaccine can be located by visiting Vaccines.gov, texting your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233.  You may also talk to your healthcare provider about how to get the COVID-19 booster. Anyone eligible to receive a booster dose or third dose of vaccine to protect against COVID-19 is also encouraged to get their shot at an MCDH clinic, a participating pharmacy or through a healthcare provider.

Vaccine may be delayed, or appointments may be filled at participating locations. If that is the case, please be patient and know that appointments will be available as soon as possible.

To schedule an appointment with MCDH, please visit https://bit.ly/MCDHCOVIDVaxLoc. Those without internet or who need assistance with scheduling an appointment should call the MCDH COVID-19 Call Center at (815) 334-4045.

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This press release was produced by the McHenry County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.