Mayo Clinic is preparing to vaccinate children 12 and older for COVID-19, with the first COVID-19 vaccination expected to be given this week. Vaccination is strongly recommended for all.

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You may have heard that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to include children 12–15. This is the first of several authorizations needed for Mayo Clinic to vaccinate children in this age group for COVID-19.

The next steps include a review and recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is meeting Wednesday, May 12, and a final adoption recommendation from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Select Mayo Clinic locations are prepared to vaccinate children 12 and older, and will move forward based on state health department vaccine distribution plans. The Minnesota and Wisconsin health departments anticipate the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines for children to be available this week.

The Pfizer vaccine has been found to be 100% effective in preventing severe disease, as defined by CDC and 95.3% effective in preventing severe disease, as defined by the FDA. This vaccine requires two doses 21 days apart.

Moderna has been studying its vaccine in children ages 12 to 17 since December and is also expected to file an amendment to its emergency use authorization soon. This vaccine has been found to be 94.5% effective. The vaccine requires two doses 28 days apart.

How to schedule an appointment for your child.

To be vaccinated for COVID-19, all children under age 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Appointments can be made by calling one of the numbers below, using Patient Online Services or through the Mayo Clinic app to schedule whenever it is convenient.

A parent or guardian will need to make appointments for 12-year-olds by calling or using caregiver account online or via the app. Patients 13 and older can schedule their own vaccination appointment or have a parent or guardian call one of the numbers below.

Arizona: At this time, Mayo Clinic in Arizona is not offering COVID-19 vaccinations for children because it was not designated as a mass vaccine site for the state of Arizona. If you have children eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, you are encouraged to seek an appointment at a convenient vaccination site near you.

Florida: At this time, Mayo Clinic in Florida is offering COVID-19 vaccinations for all eligible patients, staff and their dependents 12 and older, by appointment. You are invited to schedule an appointment by calling 904-953-2000.

Minnesota

• Albert Lea, Austin, Owatonna or Red Wing: 507-434-9929.
• Mankato: 507-594-2100.
• Rochester: 507-538-4040.

Wisconsin

• Northwest Wisconsin ― Bloomer: 715-568-2000.
• Northwest Wisconsin ― Eau Claire: 715-838-5437.
• Northwest Wisconsin ― Menomonie: 715-233-7777.
• Northwest Wisconsin ― Osseo: 715-597-3121, press "2."
• Northwest Wisconsin ― Rice Lake: 715-236-8500.
• Southwest Wisconsin (Arcadia, La Crosse, Prairie du Chien and Sparta): 608-392-7400.

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Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date. 

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

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