|
For Immediate Release
Date: May 11, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children 12 to 15 Years Old to Begin Thursday at Lake County Health Department Vaccination Sites
Lake County, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department will open COVID-19 vaccinations to children ages 12 to 15 years old on Thursday, May 13, 2021, following the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to register their children on the Lake County AllVax Portal to make an appointment at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake or Regional Vaccination Site at 102 W. Water Street, Waukegan.
On Monday, May 10, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to include 12 to 15-year-old children after rigorous review of clinical trial data for this age group. This vaccine was authorized for use in ages 16 and older on December 11, 2020. On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, ACIP will hold a meeting and vote on expanding the age eligibility before making its recommendation to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After this point, Lake County vaccine providers may begin vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
AllVax appointments for 12 to 15-year-olds will open within 24 hours of the ACIP vote. Households who are already registered on the AllVax portal are encouraged to add children as a household member, rather than setting up a separate account for their child. Minors under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive their vaccine at a Lake County Health Department vaccination site.
“We are eager to provide COVID-19 vaccines to more teens and adolescents to prevent new infections in our families and communities,” said Mark Pfister, Executive Director of the Lake County Health Department. “Cases among 14 to 18-year-olds in Lake County doubled in the month of April. We know our families long for normalcy—healthy and lower risk social interactions, quality education with minimal disruptions, and the return of activities that we enjoy. We urge families to protect your children from this illness by getting them vaccinated as soon as possible.”
Residents may also check with other Lake County COVID-19 vaccine providers such as local vaccination sites, pharmacies, and healthcare providers for availability of vaccinations for this age group. For help finding a vaccine provider in Lake County, visit www.lakecountyil.gov/vaccine.
As of May 10, 2021, 230,261 Lake County residents, or 32.86% of the population, have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Over 80% of seniors ages 65 and older and 50% of those ages 16–64 have received at least one dose of the vaccine.
# # #
General Public Contact Information:
General COVID-19 Questions: COVID19@lakecountyil.gov
AllVax Support Team: AllVax@lakecountyil.gov / (847) 377-8130
News Media Contact Information:
Lake County Joint Information Center: COVIDmedia@lakecountyil.gov / (847) 377-2001
| 
