Children age 5 to 11 will be able to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at the Shelby County Health Department beginning Thursday, Nov. 4.

The Health Department will offer vaccinations for children accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on a walk-in basis at its immunization clinic at 814 Jefferson Ave. between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The parent/legal guardian must provide documentation of the child’s birth date, a birth certificate or shot record. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday, Nov. 2. 

US gives final clearance to COVID-19 shots for kids 5 to 11

 Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital is among the first locally to receive doses and is expecting to host vaccine events starting next week. 

Dr. Nick Hysmith, medical director of infection prevention at Le Bonheur, says that hospital staff is optimistic. 

“We’re really excited and hopeful that we can see as many kids as we possibly can in the next couple weeks, to prevent that next wave that could come later in the winter,” Hysmith said.

Hysmith said Le Bonheur is also hoping for the ability to provide appointments soon. 

Parents planning to have their child vaccinated can expect them to receive one-third of the Pfizer adult dose, using a smaller needle made specifically for children. 

The Health Department clinic also is providing Pfizer vaccines for children ages 12-17 and adults 18 and older. It also is offering Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to adults 18 and older.

In a recent social media post, the CDC said that hospitalization rates among children have been high. 

As with adults, parents will need to bring their child back for the second dose, three weeks after receiving the first. 

The CDC is projecting that children may have side effects after being vaccinated that could affect their school day or outside play. Those could include arm pain or swelling, tiredness, headache or fever-like symptoms that should go away a few days after. 

The CDC recommends contacting a health care provider for information regarding non-aspirin pain relievers to treat any discomfort. 

“The approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for pediatric patients further bolsters our efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 and continue to put an end to this pandemic,” Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said in a statement on Wednesday, Nov. 3.