Saint Alphonsus opens vaccines to children 12-15, but not in Baker City or Ontario
By Paul Hall on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
BAKER CITY/ONTARIO – (Release from Saint Alphonsus) Saint Alphonsus Health System has opened vaccine appointments for children ages 12-15, following the decision by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to grant Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer COVID-19 to this new age group.
The decision means anyone age 12 and above can receive the two-dose vaccination.
“We know that the vaccine has been proven to decrease your risk of getting the infection, and if you do get the infection, can decrease your risk of hospitalization and death. It’s a huge benefit and is now available to children age 12-plus. That’s amazing,” said Dr. Vaun Archibald, DO, a Saint Alphonsus Medical Group pediatrician. “I think we should take advantage of this opportunity. No one is going to have their arm twisted and forced to get a vaccine. It is optional. However, I do encourage parents to think long and hard about it, and to use those evidence-based approaches that have shown that this vaccine is effective and safe and can benefit everyone.”
Patients under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian when receiving their vaccination or must submit a consent form signed by a parent or guardian. Consent forms can be downloaded in English or Spanish, and are also available at www.saintalphonsus.org/getvaccinated.
Dr. Archibald noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics reports more than 3.7 million children are known to have contracted COVID-19, and 22-percent of all new cases in the country are in children. He said those who say kids can’t get the disease are mistaken. He “100-percent” supports giving the vaccine to this group of children.
“This has been a rough year on children, with the isolation and the separation from their friends. Our greatest hope of getting back to a normal life is universal vaccination.”
To schedule an appointment, visit www.saintalphonsus.org/getvaccinated and click the appointment link. Saint Alphonsus offers vaccinations at its clinic located in The Village at Meridian, as well as locations in Caldwell and Fruitland.
Saint Alphonsus Medical Centers in Ontario and Baker City, Oregon offer the Moderna vaccine, which is only authorized for patients 18 and older. For patients who prefer a single-dose vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine is available upon request to patients 18 years and older at the Saint Alphonsus clinic in Meridian.
