This Saturday, November 6, COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 to 11 will begin at San Mateo immunization clinics after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after concluding that it is safe and effective, and following clearance through the federal Western States Scientific Safety Review Working Group process.
The pediatric immunization clinic will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 6 and Saturday, November 13; and from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 10 through Friday, November 12. The county anticipates scheduling additional pediatric immunization clinics as demand dictates.
Superheroes and a red carpet will greet children this Saturday at the San Mateo County Event Center to help these little ones feel more comfortable getting their shot against the disease that has infected more than 5 million infants nationwide.
Children ages 5-11 who come to the clinic will find a variety of colorful, age-appropriate themes, including Legoland, Candy Land, Superheroes and Roblox, Pac-Man, while bright walls and privacy barriers make the space more inviting. Life-size TVs and chess sets, as well as a Connect Four will also help children feel comfortable while waiting for their shot and during the 15-minute viewing period.
"Parents and children have been waiting a long time for their turn to get vaccinated and we want to give them a positive experience. Let's face it, the last year and a half has been hard for all of us, and I would say especially for our kids. We're excited to finally protect our kids and our community, so we decided to have a little fun. Plus, these kids are superheroes for doing their part and we want to celebrate them during their visit," said County Administrator Mike Callagy.
The clinic inside the Events Pavilion is for appointments only through MyTurnand will be available starting this Thursday, November 4.
Those scheduling appointments should go to the Event Center at 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Those driving to appointments will enter and exit through Gate 8 on Saratoga Drive and will be directed to park in a specific area.
A medical provider will be present at the children's clinic to answer parents' questions.
Adults and those 12 and older who also need a first, second or booster, can also schedule appointments at a self-service clinic in the Event Center. Hours of operation and appointments are available on MyTurn.
Only children 5-11 years old can receive immunizations at the pediatric clinic.
County leaders and health officials also want the community to remember that there are many options for accessing vaccines.
Pediatric vaccines will also be available through health care providers - Kaiser, Sutter, PAMF, Stanford - and local pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens. In addition, County Health is partnering with the San Mateo County Office of Education and school districts to support school-based immunization clinics the week of November 15.
The County also appreciates the financial partnership for the pediatric clinic with Google, Kaiser and the San Mateo County Economic Development Association (SAMCEDA).
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