The Blue Ridge Health District announced it will begin vaccinating children aged five through 11 starting the first week of November in an update released Friday. The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use for the Pfizer vaccine in this age group Friday.
Previously, the COVID-19 vaccine was only available to those over 12 years of age, meaning about 15 percent of Charlottesville’s population is unvaccinated.
This announcement comes after the University canceled Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn due to concerns over gathering unvaccinated children and high-risk community members in the same space.
According to the update, the BRHD estimates vaccine rollout will begin Nov. 6. A limited supply of vaccines means rollout will be slower in the first three weeks of vaccination. The BRHD plans to prioritize the most vulnerable populations — children at higher risk of poor health outcomes and hospitalization from COVID-19 — when vaccinations begin.
As of Oct. 21, cases in children make up 16.5 percent of COVID-19 cases nationwide — the definition of “child” depends on varying age ranges reported by different states. In Virginia, this range includes individuals between the ages of 0 and 19 — in the BRHD, children account for 21.7 percent of cases.
The Pfizer vaccine will be offered in two doses to children ages five through 11, but in a lower dose than used for individuals 12 years or older — 10 micrograms versus 30 micrograms, respectively.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children between ages five and 11 and no serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and CDC will meet Tuesday to discuss a recommendation for this age group.
The BRHD will focus on distributing the vaccine to children through three avenues — pediatric and family-practice clinics, school drive-thru clinics and clinics in neighborhoods identified as housing-marginalized. These neighborhoods have been selected due to lower rates of vaccination, areas of low-income housing, large refugee populations and communities of color.
Per CDC guidance, the BRHD and U.Va. Health began offering booster shots and third doses of the vaccine Oct. 18. Individuals 65 years of age or older and individuals 18 years of age or older who live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions and who work or live in high-risk settings are eligible to receive a booster shot.
As of Friday, there are 32 active cases in the University community, 10 of which are students. There are 53 total in-house patients at U.Va. Health.
Vaccine appointments for children can be made on the BRHD’s Vaccine Appointment Scheduling Engine, or VASE. Limited appointments will be available at the Community Vaccination Center at Seminole Square.
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