Logistics, Not Politics May Make Getting Shots For Your Children A Challenge.
CVS Ready To Inject When Approved.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — It’s logistics, not politics. Several local pediatricians tell BocaNewsNow.com that they are unsure — for now — whether they will offer COVID-19 shots to their young patients. The FDA is expected to green-light shots for kids 5-12 within the next week.
“We don’t have the resources to refrigerate hundreds of vaccines, and we don’t have the resources to process hundreds of kids over the time frame of a few weeks,” said an office manager for a local pediatric practice. “This isn’t a political problem, it’s simply logistics. We want every child to get the shot.”
Several offices, all which asked to not be identified for now, shared similar thinking.
“This isn’t a routine flu shot during a physical,” said another practice representative. “This is hundreds of kids needing a shot all at once. We’re not set up for that. We want kids to get the shot, but public health and pharmacy settings are better set up for this type of massive effort.”
Demand is expected to be high as parents rush to get their kids vaccinated, or at least partially vaccinated, before Thanksgiving trips and family visits. While the Biden Administration suggests that it’s ready to ship millions of doses as soon as the FDA approves, it’s unclear where those shipments will be heading.
Most pediatricians in the area have not been offering shots to their patients aged 12-18 — sending them instead to area pharmacies and public health locations.
CVS National Spokeswoman Shannon Dillon told BocaNewsNow.com that nationwide and in South Florida, CVS is ready to administer shots to young children.
“We’ve played a prominent role in administering third doses to the immunocompromised and previously authorized booster shots and are prepared to expand vaccine eligibility to ages 5-11 as soon as authorized to do so by public health agencies.”
CVS already offers first and second does to the 12-18 age group.
Walgreens provided BocaNewsNow.com the following statement:
“We look forward to receiving additional information from the FDA, CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) regarding official guidance and timing for the potential approval of COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5-11 and will share more information once that is available. Until ACIP provides guidance, COVID-19 vaccinations are not available in our stores for children under the age of 12. Our pharmacy team members have extensive experience vaccinating children and adolescents.”
Robin Kish, Spokesperson for the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, did not immediately respond to a request for guidance. The Health Care District has overseen massive vaccination efforts countywide ever since vaccines were first available.
BocaNewsNow.com is attempting to create a list of pediatricians and pediatric practices that expect to offer the COVID-19 shot to children 5-11. Please share your details with us through the form, below.
