With the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months up to 5 years of age, local supply has become available and the Madison County Department of Health (MCDOH) has announced clinics for infants and children, ages 6 months to 5 years.

These clinics are by appointment only and will be held in the Madison County Health Department at 138 N. Court St., Building 5, in Wampsville.

Scheduled clinics include:

Moderna Vaccine (2 dose series)

• Friday, July 8, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. (2nd dose 8/5/22)
• Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (2nd dose 8/10/22)

Pfizer Vaccine (3 dose series)

• Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. (2nd dose 8/3, 3rd dose 10/3)

To learn more about getting their child vaccinated, parents are encouraged to reach out to their child’s pediatrician or provider. MCDOH officials have stated that a limited number of pediatric providers ordered and plan to give the vaccine to infants and children under 5.

Provider offices indicated that a lack of vaccine storage, staffing, and concerns about wasting doses of vaccine, as the most common barriers to providing the vaccine.

Some local pharmacies are offering the Pfizer vaccine; however, they are currently limited by law to vaccinating only children ages 3 and older.

Kinney Drugs has announced vaccine availability for children ages 3 and 4 at the following local pharmacies:

• 103 Utica Street, Hamilton
• 12 Franklin Ave, Clinton
• 40 First Street, Ilion
• 7998 Route 31, Bridgeport

Kinney Drugs offers the following accommodations for pediatric vaccine appointments:

Family appointments: Parents can schedule a single appointment for two children at once.

Dedicated, longer appointment times to ensure that children have time to adjust and feel more comfortable.

Free, optional “Buzzy the Vaccine Bee” experience – Buzzy is a bee-shaped device that applies vibration and cold to numb the area and helps take the sting out of the shot.

Distraction activities and a small post-shot treat.

Call your local pharmacy for availability or visit Kinney Drugs online to schedule, according to the company’s announcement.

For questions, parents may also talk with a Madison County Public Health Nurse by calling 315-366-2848.

To find vaccination locations for those 6 months and older or make an appointment, visit the Madison County Health Department website at www.healthymadisoncounty.org.

CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., last week endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The move expands eligibility for vaccination to nearly 20 million additional children and means that all Americans ages 6 months and older are now eligible for vaccination, according to the CDC.

All children, including children who have already had COVID-19, should get vaccinated, the CDC said, adding that COVID-19 vaccines have undergone—and will continue to undergo—the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Parents can reach out to their doctor, nurse, local pharmacy, or health department, or visit vaccines.gov to see where vaccines are available.