COVID-19 Vaccines available for children ages 5-11

The CDC has approved and recommended the use of a COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5-11 to help protect them from contracting and spreading the virus. Currently, Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children as a 2-stage series taken 3 weeks apart.

With staff training complete and vaccine supply on site, Mile Bluff will begin providing Pfizer vaccines for children ages 5-11, starting Wednesday, November 10. This service is available to all community members looking to be vaccinated, not just Mile Bluff patients.

Starting November 10, COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 will be available at:

• Mile Bluff Medical Center (1050 Division Street, Mauston)
  • Available – Wednesday starting at 3 pm. Please note, appointment availability may be adjusted based on demand for vaccines.
  • By appointment only. To make an appointment call, 608-847-5000 or request an appointment online at www.milebluff.com/request
• Phillips Pharmacy (123 East State Street, Mauston)
  • Available - Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-6:30 pm. To make an appointment, call 608-847-5949.

At the time of the appointment, children and guardians will be directed to the old rehabilitation department, where they will register and receive the vaccine. Guardians will be required to accompany their children throughout the entire appointment. Following CDC guidelines for healthcare organizations, everyone is asked to wear a mask while in the medical center.

About the vaccine

Studies have shown that this vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5-11. The vaccine protects children from becoming severely ill or having long-lasting health impacts due to COVID-19. While children and adolescents are typically at lower risk than adults of becoming severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, it is still possible.

Children who have received the COVID-19 vaccine have experienced mild side effects – like soreness in the arm, fatigue, headaches or a slight fever – that have gone away in one or two days. Children, ages 5-11, are given a dose that is one-third the amount that is being used for older adolescents and adults. The risk of a child having a serious reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is very low.

Vaccinating children protects their health and allows them to fully engage in all of the activities that are important to their health and development. In addition to less time away from work and school, parents can enjoy greater peace of mind when their children gather with family, participate in community and sports events, and get back to activities that may have been paused during the height of the pandemic.

As always, everyone is encouraged to continue to wash hands regularly, practice social distancing, wear a mask (regardless of vaccination status), and keep social circles small in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC.