Beebe Healthcare to hold pediatric vaccination event Nov. 20

Beebe Healthcare will host a pediatric vaccination event for ages 5-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, at 3663 Bayview Medical Drive, Unit 3, Lewes, off Savannah Road.

Beebe will be using the Pfizer vaccine that received emergency use authorization for children ages 5-11, which is 1/3 of the adult dose.

Subsequent second-dose events will be held 21 days after at the same location.

Scheduling an appointment is strongly suggested and easy to do online; go to beebehealthcare.org and search pediatric vaccination appointment. 

While Beebe also offers online scheduling for adult doses of Pfizer for ages 12 and up, pediatric doses will only be offered at this event.

There are many other options for parents who cannot make this date. The Delaware Division of Public Health has multiple standing vaccine sites throughout Delaware. Local pharmacies or a child's pediatrician may also have the pediatric vaccine, although supplies may be limited.

The pediatric dose was approved Nov. 2, 2021, by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Several studies were conducted on 5,000 children ages 5-11. The vaccine was determined to be safe; no severe vaccine-related side effects were reported. Also, there were no reports of myocarditis or anaphylaxis.

The vaccine was found to be 90 percent effective against developing symptomatic COVID-19. Side effects reported were similar to or fewer than those experienced by adults.

Side effects could include sore arms, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, chills and low-grade fevers lasting a day or two. Reducing potential side effects was one reason the dosage was lowered for those 5-11.