Pfizer Vaccine for Ages 5-11 now available In Delaware

SEAFORD, Del. – After clearing the final FDA hurdle, the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine for ages 5-11 is now approved for use, and certain locations in the Delaware area are already giving out shots, with more locations including pharmacies, pediatricians, and family care practices set to receive their shots within the week.

“Myself being a parent, you know having a child 11 years old, iI am excited to have that vaccine available,” said Seaford Pharmacy owner and pharmacist RPH Waheed Aziz.

He tells us he’s been getting multiple calls a day from parents wondering when their child can get the vaccine. He’s thrilled that after 2 weeks of waiting; he finally has an answer.

“We are expected to get the first shipment on Friday, it’s gonna be at least a hundred doses to start with, and then after that on average we do anywhere between 20 to 30 patients per day,” he said.

Local Pharmacies like Aziz’s are part of the rollout, but the other half are state-run facilities, staffed by the National Guard. Delaware Division of Public Health Director Karyl Rattay tells us unlike adult vaccines, you won’t need an appointment to take your child to be vaccinated.

“It is available now at the DPH standing vaccine sites right now, I can’t say if there will be lines or not as we are taking walk-ins,” Dr. Rattay said.

Seaford Pharmacy, however, will have appointments,  and special weekend hours to make getting shots into arms a little easier for parents. Aziz believes for a business of his scale, it’s the fastest way.

“It’s gonna be a smooth process 15-20 minutes 30 minutes max and they will be in and out,” he said.

Director Rattay tells us that getting children vaccinated ahead of the holiday season is crucial. She believes they have the supply to get it done.

“It is a milestone time for us in this pandemic where we can really start to protect age group much better,” she said.

Within the week Dr. Rattay tells us the vaccine will be available at pediatricians’ offices, and additional DPH clinics. She says the biggest challenge with administering the doses is timing,  as once a vile is opened they have just 6 hours to give out doses. Aziz tells us they expect a new shipment of vaccines at the end of every week, using smaller shipments to keep waste at a minimum.