AdventHealth doctors encourage parents to get newly eligible children vaccinated for COVID-19

ORLANDO, Fla. — AdventHealth doctors said COVID-19 vaccine shots for children ages 5 to 11 should be available at various facilities including urgent care clinics, doctor’s offices, retailers, and schools around Central Florida, possibly by next week.

On Thursday, the chief medical officer and medical director of its hospital for children reiterated the safety of the vaccine for kids and the impressive results of the studies.

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“There were 3,000 kids in the initial trials and it was better tolerated than it was in the adolescent group and the adults, it’s extremely safe, and no serious side effects, which I think is very encouraging,” said Dr. Michael Keating, chief medical officer at AdventHealth for Children.

READ: See where your child can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County

The doctors said it’s still critical to get kids vaccinated despite the current lower rates of infection, because of the area’s lack of herd immunity.

They advise entire families to get vaccinated, if possible, to ensure the best protection against the virus.

READ: Coronavirus: United Kingdom authorizes Merck’s COVID-19 pill

Video: See where your child can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Orange County Orange County Public Schools said it will offer voluntary COVID-19 vaccine clinics next week in hopes of getting students fully vaccinated by winter break. (Q McCray, WFTV.com)

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