COVID-19 boosters available for 5-11 year olds at Carle

(WEEK) - Children at least five years of age and older can now be scheduled for an appointment for a COVID-19 booster at a Carle location.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now officially recommends that eligible individuals 5-11 should receive a booster dose at least 5 months after the completion of their primary series.

“We continue to see data confirming being fully up to date with COVID-19 vaccines as the best way to limit getting sick and the severity of disease,” said Robert Healy, MD, associate chief medical officer for Quality, Patient Safety and Experience. “As we are seeing more and more positive cases in the region, it’s important for all community members, especially those most at risk, to do everything they can to stay well.”

Public health officials from the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) both endorse every American who is eligible to complete the primary COVID-19 vaccine series and follow it up with a booster according to their criteria as soon as possible. The 5-11 population continues to be impacted greatly by the virus, which if contracted can cause unanticipated long-term effects and continue the spread the infection to those who are more vulnerable to severe disease.

Carle will have ample access to booster appointments available in Pediatric and Primary Care offices across the region. Anyone can schedule an appointment through their local COVID-19 hotline number, found on Carle.org.