NEW YORK — New York City public schools on Tuesday started giving out second doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as five years old.
Pop-up vaccination clinics are traveling to more than 1,000 elementary schools across the five boroughs through mid-December as the city looks to boost the vaccine rate among schoolkids ages 5 to 11, which is only at 16%.
The list of schools offering vaccines and the schedule can be found HERE.
On Tuesday morning, news cameras swarmed 8-year-old Eddie Nash, who became an instant celebrity as he walked off the vaccine bus at PS 40 in Gramercy.
"It felt pretty good," Nash said after getting his second shot. "I'm probably COVID-free right now, maybe."
His twin brothers, who are in kindergarten, also got their second doses.
Their father, Patrick, said even at a young age, the boys understand the importance of vaccination.
"I think they are very excited to finally be able to join society and really not have to worry about things as much," he said.
One mother told 1010 WINS' Roger Stern that the shots will mean a more normal, less isolated life.
"The first year was definitely tough, I have three kids, they have all missed out on a lot. I know their friends have missed out on a lot," she said.
No appointments are necessary to receive a vaccine at the school pop-up vaccine sites, which are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The vaccination effort comes as health officials warned the new omicron variant of COVID-19 is likely to be detected in the city in the coming days.
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