Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Options to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 years-old continue to grow as the push for COVID vaccination expands.
The University at Buffalo south campus is among ten sites statewide that will now serve as mass vaccination sites for the 5 to 11 year-old age group.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Saturday following the CDC's recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children in this age group, New York State's Clinical Advisory Task Force endorsed the CDC recommendation and the state issued guidance to providers. Since that time, more than 50,000 New York children in this age group have received the first dose of the vaccine.
"Parents have been waiting for the ability to protect their young children from COVID-19, and we are doing everything we can to make that possible," Governor Hochul said. "Since this 5 to 11 year-old age group became eligible, we have been encouraging parents to reach out to their pediatricians and local health providers to set up vaccine appointments and now I'm directing our state mass vaccination sites to open their doors to the youngest and most recently eligible New Yorkers."
The vaccines are currently being administered by a network of pediatricians, family physicians, local health departments, rural and federally qualified health centers and pharmacies. To expedite and expand this effort, the Governor has asked the state mass vaccination sites to acquire pediatric doses and prepare to vaccinate 5 to 11 year-olds, with all 13 sites preparing to do so in the days ahead.
The following locations will be administering vaccines for 5 to 11 year-olds:
The Great New York State Fair - Art and Home Center, Syracuse
SUNY Old Westbury - Clark Athletic Center, Glen Head
Crossgates Mall, Former Lord & Taylor Store - Upper Level, Albany
Aqueduct Racetrack, South Ozone Park
Rochester Educational Opportunity Center, Rochester
Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn
Bay Eden Senior Center, Bronx
New York National Guard Armory, Yonkers
SUNY Stony Brook, Stony Brook
University at Buffalo South Campus, Buffalo
Parents and guardians can make appointments at state mass vaccination sites here. Additionally, parents and guardians are encouraged to contact their child's pediatrician, family physician, health centers, pharmacies or other providers for vaccination information and to schedule appointments.
Parents and guardians are also encouraged to visit the State's new website, ny.gov/VaxForKids, for information, frequently asked questions and new resources about the COVID-19 vaccine for children. The state has recently added ready-made materials to support pediatric providers and localities administering the vaccine to children on-the-ground, including new posters and stickers available here.
Families are advised to make sure that any site or provider offers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, as the other COVID-19 vaccines are not yet authorized for this age group.
