Orange County schools to offer COVID-19 vaccines for children this week

ORLANDO, Fla. — Central Florida is starting to see the rollout process of the COVID-19 vaccine for young children.

The Orange County school district is preparing to offer the vaccine to families this week, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 last week.

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For the very first time, young children will be able to walk right up to certain schools across Orange County and get a COVID-19 vaccine.

School leaders call it the next step now that Central Florida has closed in on herd immunity for other populations.

“Every group can add to herd immunity,” said pediatrician and mother Dr. Candice Jones.

Jones encourages parents and doctors to keep up their own research as kids 5 to 11 begin getting vaccinated against coronavirus.

READ: Judge dismisses challenge to ban on Florida school mask mandates

On Tuesday, the first round begins with people able to stop by Apopka, Boone, Evans, Freedom, Ocoee and University high schools from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Orange County recently reached the level of herd immunity with 76% of the eligible populations vaccinated.

It’s something health leaders never thought would be possible during the COVID-19 delta surge.

Orange County health officer Dr. Raul Pino said the number of people who died during the surge changed a lot of minds.

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“There are also people who have experienced the disease itself, so they have natural immunity,” Pino said. “So our levels are much, much higher.”

Children will need to have a signed parent consent form to get a Pfizer COVID-19 shot.

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