More than 60 public school districts across the Cincinnati region will be out of school this week and next, and regional health officials and pediatricians hope to see kids rolling up their sleeves to be vaccinated against COVID-19 during the holiday break.
"With the holidays around the corner, now is a great time to vaccinate kids," said Kate Schroder, interim chief strategy officer for the Health Collaborative, which represents six area hospital systems. "It protects them. And we need to let kids be kids again. They’ve given up so much."
So far, 23% of kids 5-11 in Hamilton County have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for use in children of that age group.
Schroder reminded parents there are 100 vaccine providers for young children in Hamilton County, and parents can schedule appointments through the Health Collaborative site, Test and Protect Cincy.
Cincinnati City Health Commissioner Melba Moore said that the health department provides vaccines from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and has Saturday clinics at its administration building in Corryville. "We invite parents to take advantage of this time to get themselves and their children vaccinated," she said.
Getting a vaccine during the break means that a child won't risk having time off from school if the vaccine leaves them temporarily tired or feeling bad, the way some adults react to the jab.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center continues its clinics throughout the region and as of last week had administered more than 7,200 doses to children ages 5 to 11 since the first clinic in Avondale on Nov. 3.
But today, Cincinnati Children's announced a special vaccine clinic: The medical center is teaming with the Cincinnati Museum Center for a free clinic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 29 at Union Terminal. There, Cincinnati Children’s providers will administer vaccines in a room off the rotunda. Flu shots also will be available.
The clinic is geared for kids ages 5 to 11, officials said, but older kids and adults also are welcome to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. No appointment is necessary.
“Our community is continuing to push back against the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccination remains the path to beating this virus,” said Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum Center. “With a significant portion of our guests falling in that 5 to 11 age range, we’re excited to team with Cincinnati Children’s to protect our young guests and our community.”
Museum center admission will be free to those vaccinated that day, and parking is free in the lots at 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Metro bus service is also available to the Museum Center.
The museum center earlier in December offered free admission to immunized children through the end of 2021.
Susan Wade-Murphy, a registered nurse and assistant vice president for Cincinnati Children's Patient Service, who oversees the COVID-19 vaccination clinics, said the Museum Center is a great location to reach a large number of children who have busy parents.
“Vaccinating them now will ensure they return to school protected while also giving them free entrance to the Museum Center,” Wade-Murphy said. Cincinnati Children's staff also will do outreach vaccination in the nearby West End.
Elsewhere in the region, pediatric offices are bracing for a big two weeks of visits during the holiday break. In Northern Kentucky, St. Elizabeth Physicians is teeming with appointments.
"Our numbers are extremely high, not entirely due to the availability of vaccines," said Dr. John LaCount, a pediatrician at St. Elizabeth Physicians in Florence. "Every time a new variant has shown up there’s a slight increase in the number of people who are seeking vaccinations.”
Schroder said getting the kids vaccinated is "especially critical with the new omicron variant, holiday gatherings, and the winter weather that means more time indoors."
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