MADISON, Wis. — In Wisconsin’s most highly-vaccinated county, interest among parents to get their younger children the COVID-19 vaccine once final federal approval is received is high.
“We’re going to be first in line for sure,” Dane County mother Tawny Morrison said of her 7-year-old. “I think just having that extra layer of protection is just going to make us feel so much better.”
That kind of interest is replicated throughout Dane County, UW Health pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Greg DeMuri said.
“So far we’ve seen intense interest, here in Dane County the interest has been very, very widespread and parents are very anxious to get it.”
National-based pharmacies likely first-stop
The Biden Administration has already started shipping out Pfizer’s specially-designed child vaccines to states following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval on Friday.
National-based pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens will likely be more immediately available for appointments as a result, shortly followed by local health providers who are currently also waiting on state guidance.
“You want to check those places first, we have heard they’re likely to receive vaccine before some of the healthcare settings,” Dr. DeMuri explained. “We do expect something to be available really quickly, as quickly as we possibly can.”
Local providers waiting on state guidance
As in past vaccine rollouts, local health providers like UW Health or county departments like Public Health Madison Dane County are waiting on the state’s approval as well before administering vaccines.
“We also need to wait for clinical guidance from CDC/DHS, which in this most recent case involving boosters did take an additional day or two,” a PHMDC spokesperson said, referring to the last major vaccine eligibility decision.
The Department of Health Services will update the public on their own approval either Wednesday or Thursday, a spokesperson told News 3 Now.
Once the state gives the green light, PHMDC is prepared to increase vaccine administration at the Alliant Energy Center from 200 to 1,000 shots a day, a spokesperson said Tuesday.
SSM Health to open day clinics at schools
SSM Health announced Tuesday that it will begin holding clinics for students aged 5 to 11 this week, following the CDC’s expected final approval.
400 Waunakee school staff members and first responders to get booster doses on Thursday. The following day, the health care provider will hold a vaccine booster clinic with Sun Prairie schools to offer shots to more than 800 staff members and contractors.
Other districts will follow in days to come, the provider announced.
This coverage will be updated.
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