Carle Health is offering two pop-up bivalent COVID-19 booster clinics for all eligible children ages five to 18 on Saturday, November 5 at two of its pediatric office locations in the Champaign-Urbana area. Bivalent boosters were most recently approved for the five to 11-year-old age group and provide protection from both the original strain of COVID-19 and the omicron variant. Flu vaccine will also be available for this age group.
Appointments are required and can be made by phone. Children do not have to be Carle patients to receive the bivalent booster but those also wanting flu vaccine must be current patients or have insurance accepted by Carle.
WHEN: Saturday, November 5, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
WHERE: Carle Champaign on Curtis Pediatrics, 1701 Curtis Rd, Champaign, IL (217) 365-6202
Carle Urbana on Windsor, 1818 E. Windsor Rd, Urbana, IL (217) 255-9700
Access to the bivalent booster vaccine may be limited after the Nov. 5 clinics so parents wishing to have their children vaccinated at a Carle pediatrics location should plan to attend one of the Nov. 5 clinics.
“Now is the time to schedule a COVID-19 booster shot for younger and older children” said Allison Thompson, RN, Patient Care Manager with pediatrics. “As multiple viruses are beginning to circulate more widely in our communities it is important to equip children with all the protection available. We are seeing higher than average cases of RSV and getting reports of seasonal flu cases.”
Children may experience headaches or a muscle aches following booster and flu shots, but this will lessen over time. If a child has not received the first or second initial COVID-19 vaccination, no bivalent booster shot will be given. For the initial COVID-19 vaccination, parents should make an appointment with their local pharmacy or their child's doctor.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone six months or older. The CDC also recommends that people over age five receive the bivalent booster at least two months after their last COVID-19 vaccination dose.
For more information, visit Carle.org.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up