On May 10, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children ages 12-15, and the CDC has recommended the vaccine be used to protect this age group from COVID-19.

In order to accommodate this expanded age group approval, Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) will be hosting a walk-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday, May 21st from 4 to 7 pm at the Salida Middle School. CCPH has plenty of vaccine and appointments are not required, however parents who wish to register their child(ren) for an appointment may do so at chaffeecounty.rsvpify.com. Unaccompanied children under the age of 18 must have a consent form signed by a parent or guardian.

This age expansion is an important milestone for Chaffee County families and children who have already endured so much over the course of the pandemic, and especially as we have recently seen cases of COVID-19 increase among middle and high school aged individuals in our state.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was found to be safe and effective for children ages 12-15 based on a rigorous and thorough clinical trial. In the trial, the vaccine was 100% effective at preventing COVID-19. Side effects of vaccination were about the same as those seen in people age 16 and older, and the most common were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain. For those who had side effects, they typically lasted 1-3 days.

Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) encourages everyone ages 12+ to get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can to protect yourself, your loved ones and the community.

The clinic on May 21st is not just open to adolescents. Anyone who would like a COVID-19 vaccine should come to the Salida Middle School between 4 and 7 pm on Friday May 21st. Pfizer vaccine will be available for ages 12+ or Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for ages 18+. The Pfizer second dose clinic will be held on June 11th. Johnson & Johnson is a one dose series.

“The research continues to be clear – the COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective, and they are truly the ticket out of this pandemic. Having access to free, easily accessible vaccines is a privilege many around the world do not have yet, and I hope that as a community we can work together to take this essential step in preventing the spread of COVID-19,” says CCPH Deputy Director Emily Anderson.

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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