WASHINGTON — Communities across the DMV region are revealing their plans as to how they will distribute vaccines to younger residents.
On Tuesday, an independent advisory panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids between the ages of 5 and 11. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed the CDC panel's recommendations soon after.
The CDC said its decision now expands vaccine recommendations to 28 million kids. Vaccine doses for children could be available across the United States as early as Wednesday.
“Together, with science leading the charge, we have taken another important step forward in our nation’s fight against the virus that causes COVID-19," Walensky said. "We know millions of parents are eager to get their children vaccinated and with this decision, we now have recommended that about 28 million children receive a COVID-19 vaccine."
The CDC reports the vaccine is 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in kids ages 5-11.
The news of the approval came as welcome news to parents who over the weekend lined up in Germantown, Arlington, and D.C. to get their child immunized against COVID.
“I think it’s actually our responsibility to do it,” Jonathan Grossman said. "Not only to get her vaccinated, the science says it’s safe, but also because it protects other kids, right, and if everyone gets vaccinated then this whole thing will be over and I think that’s what we’re all waiting for. I’m really excited. This is one step in this whole mess being over."
Walgreens announced Wednesday that parents will be able to get their children vaccinated at select stores nationwide. Appointments can be made by visiting the Walgreens website here, through the Walgreens app or by calling 1-800-Walgreens. More appointments will be available in the coming weeks as more vaccine shipments are received.
CVS Health is also now taking appointments for children 5-11 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as early as Nov. 7 at 1,700 locations, including two in D.C. Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to schedule an appointment on the CVS website or through the CVS Pharmacy app.
Vaccines are also expected to be available at Giant, Grubb’s, Safeway, and Walmart.
In D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, numerous local governments have made tentative announcements for how they plan to roll out the Pfizer vaccine to children.
Read below for information on what your community plans to do. Not all local governments have publicly shared vaccine rollout strategies for children yet.
RELATED: No, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dosage is not the same for kids ages 5 to 11 as it is for adults
District of Columbia
D.C.’s health department says it expects to initially receive 24,600 doses of the vaccines for children. Those doses will be distributed to pharmacies, hospitals, and health centers across the District.
Families will be able to go to District operated pop-up sites will specifically set up for children who are 5 to 11. DC Health says families should expect to be given more details about how they will receive their second dose after getting their first dose.
Vaccines are expected to also be available at eight Children’s National Hospital primary care locations.
Here is a schedule for the first two weeks of D.C.’s pop-up vaccination clinics for kids. Times of operation have not been released.
Location Address Ward 1st Dose Date
- Bancroft ES 1755 Newton St NW 1 11/9
- Marie Reed ES 2201 18th St NW 1 11/12
- Edlavitch DCJCC 1529 16th St, NW 2 11/7
- Garrison ES 200 S St NW 2 11/17
- Thomson ES 1200 L St NW 2 11/12
- Ben Murch ES 4810 36th St NW 3 11/13
- Janney ES 4130 Albemarle St NW 3 11/19
- Palisades Rec. Center 5200 Sherier Pl NW 3 11/16
- Center City Public Charter School - Brightwood Campus 6008 Georgia Ave NW 4 11/9
- Takoma Community Center 300 Van Buren St NW 4 11/5
- Dorothy I. Height ES 1300 Allison St NW 4 11/8
- E.L. Haynes PCS 4 501 Kansas Ave NW 4 11/18
- Lafayette ES 5701 Broad Branch NW 4 11/19
- Whittier ES 6201 5th St NW 4 11/20
- Bunker Hill ES 1401 Michigan Ave NE 5 11/18
- Center City Public Charter School - Trinidad Campus 1217 West Virginia NE 5 11/17
- DC Bilingual PCS 33 Riggs Road NE 5 11/20
- Noyes ES 725 10th St NE 5 11/8
- Kennedy Rec. Center 1401 7th St NW 6 11/10
- KIPP DC – Lead Acad. 421 P St NW 6 11/16
- Payne ES 1445 C St SE 6 11/13
- Friendship Blow Pierce Elementary & Middle 725 19th St. NE 7 11/12
- Kimball ES 3375 Minnesota Ave SE 7 11/9
- Plummer ES 4601 Texas Ave SE 7 11/17
- Smothers ES 1300 44th St NE 7 11/13
- Thomas ES 650 Anacostia Ave NE 7 11/19
- Center City: Congress Heights 220 Highview Pl SE 8 11/18
- Excel Academy Public 2501 MLK Jr Ave SE 8 11/16
- Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School/Statesmen Academy 4600 Livingston Rd SE 8 11/8
- Ft. Stanton Recreation Center 1812 Erie St SE 8 11/5
- KIPP DC Heights Acad. 2600 Douglass Rd SE 8 11/10
- Patterson ES 4399 South Cap Ter. SW 8 11/10
- Turner ES 3264 Stanton Rd SE 8 11/20
Maryland
Frederick County
The Frederick Health Department says it plans to hold clinics in some Frederick County Public Schools. FCPS will identify those locations and the dates of those clinics.
The health department says the clinics will be held in the afternoon and early evening by appointment for children ages 5 to 11 only. Health department clinics for kids 5 to 11 will also be held at 800 Oak Street in Frederick.
On Wednesday morning, Frederick County officials said the state's appointment scheduling system was not allowing people to make appointments for those 11 and under. The issue was fixed as of noon.
Two clinics have been scheduled for children 11 and younger. Anyone 12 and older who tries to schedule an appointment with the clinic will be turned away.
All dates, times, and links to clinic information will be posted here, according to the county: https://buff.ly/3vGttlS.
The health department says all children will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian to receive their COVID-19 vaccination, including at FCPS school clinics. It adds vaccines will be free and insurance will not be required.
Health officials add local pediatricians and pharmacies will also have the vaccine available.
Montgomery County
In late October, acting Montgomery County health officer Dr. James Bridgers said in a press conference that the Montgomery County Health Department planned to work with Montgomery County Public Schools to operate clinics throughout the county.
Bridgers said on the weekend, clinics will be made available at 10 to 12 sites. The sites will be middle schools in the MCPS clusters. He said they will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.
“Each cluster site will have three to five elementary schools in the region so that we can access those students who have to walk, take the bus, or walk or bike, and their parents,” he said.
Bridgers also said the health department will continue to run its community clinic sites throughout the week with extended hours.
However, they will carve out time between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, when kids 5-11 years old will be exclusively vaccinated at those sites.
Exact details as to when these clinics have not been released.
Prince George’s County
The Prince George’s County Health Department has released a schedule of new children vaccine clinics it plans to hold in conjunction with Prince George’s County Public Schools.
The county has only released information regarding clinics it plans to hold at PGCPS high schools for people ages five and up. It says an additional list of mobile clinics at PGCPS elementary schools will be coming soon.
Vaccinations at school mobile clinics will be free and eligible to any county resident. The health department encourages families to take their children to the closest schools available to receive their shots.
The County’s vaccination clinic at the Sports and Learning Complex will also continue to provide vaccines to everyone ages five and up.
Walk-ins will be accepted, but appointments at school mobile clinics will be encouraged. Appointment scheduling will be available soon.
The health department says people younger than 18 must have a parent or legal guardian complete the appropriate consent form to receive a shot at a county clinic.
Monday Clinics
November 8th, November 15th, November 22nd (First-Dose Clinic)
November 29th, December 6th, December 13th (Second-Dose Clinic)
- Laurel High School, in Laurel, 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Charles Herbert Flowers High School, in Springdale, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Gwynn Park High School, in Brandywine, 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday clinics
November 9th, November 16th, November 23rd (First-Dose Clinic)
November 30th, December 7th, December 14th (Second-Dose Clinic)
- Eleanor Roosevelt High School, in Greenbelt, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Bladensburg High School, in Bladensburg, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Henry A. Wise High School, in Upper Marlboro, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday Clinics
November 10th, November 17th, November 24th (First-Dose Clinic)
December 1st, December 8th, December 15th (Second-Dose Clinic)
- Northwestern High School, in Adelphi, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Fairmont Heights High School, in Landover, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Oxon Hill High School, in Oxon Hill, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Thursday Clinics
November 18th (First-Dose Clinic)
December 9th (Second-Dose Clinic)
- Bowie High School, in Bowie, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Suitland High School, in District Heights, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Friendly High School, in Fort Washington, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday Clinics
November 12th, November 19th (First-Dose Clinic)
December 3rd, December 10th (Second-Dose Clinic)
- High Point High School, in Beltsville, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Surrattsville High School, in Clinton, 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Crossland High School, in Camp Springs, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s County
The St. Mary’s County Health Department has scheduled a virtual town hall on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. for parents and guardians who have questions about COVID vaccination for youth.
Community members are encouraged to participate virtually via the event live streams on the health department’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Questions may be submitted in advance, prior to noon on November 5, 2021 via email to smchd.pr@maryland.gov.
The health department says it expects local vaccine appointments for youth ages 5 to 11 will be available later this week.
Virginia
Arlington County
The Arlington County's Public Health Division is offering free walk-ins and appointments to individuals 5 and older, according to the county's website.
The Arlington Mill Community Center and Walter Reed Community Center will offer vaccines for 5-11 year-olds Monday-Friday between 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In a letter to families, Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán wrote APS is working with Arlington County to roll out COVID vaccines to students.
“Once approved, we will inform the community about the availability of doses and how to schedule appointments,” Dr. Durán said.
The superintendent added that Arlington county Public Health anticipates holding clinics and scheduling vaccinations by appointment sometime in the middle of November.
Alexandria City
The Alexandria Health Department said in a recent press release that it is planning for the expansion of vaccine availability to children ages 5 to 11, including coordination with pediatricians and pharmacies. No details have been released as to where vaccines will be provided by the county.
Fairfax
Fairfax County says there are approximately additional 97,000 children in the Fairfax Health District who will now have eligibility for the vaccine.
The county says the vaccine will be made available to children through pediatric, family medical practices, pharmacies, as well as the Tysons Community Vaccination Center.
Families interested in getting their children vaccinated at the Tysons Community Vaccination Center will eventually be able to schedule their child’s appointment at vase.vdh.virginia.gov.
The county has also encouraged parents to contact their child’s medical providers to make appointments to get them the vaccine.
Loudoun County
The Dulles Town Center site is open for children's vaccine appointments. The county's website said the first available appointments for the 5-11 age group will be on Friday, Nov. 5.
“Beginning to vaccinate children under the age of 12 is an important milestone in the pandemic as this will help to further slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, improve the safety of the school environment and ultimately bring an end to the pandemic,” said Loudoun County Health Department Director Dr. David Goodfriend said.
Prince William County
Starting Thursday, Nov. 4, a Community Vaccine Center (CVC) will offer children ages 5 to 11 a chance to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine and at the Manassas Mall.
The Prince William CVC is located at the Gander Mt. building, located at 14011 Worth Avenue, Woodbridge, VA 22192. People can get a vaccine at the CVC Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Manassas Mall is located at 8300 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA 20109. People can be vaccinated on Monday through Thursday and Saturdays.
Appointments are highly recommended. To sign up for an appointment, click here.
This story will continue to be updated as more counties release their child vaccination plans.