Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to allow the administration of Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 - 11 years old<https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1102-PediatricCOVID-19Vacci…ml>. This decision comes on the heels of the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation<https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-a… ​last week. The pediatric Pfizer vaccine dose is 10 micrograms, a lower dose than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older, which is 30 micrograms, and is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart. The New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner announced on Wednesday that pediatric doses have already begun arriving in NJ and are being distributed to more than 230 sites across the state including primary care practices, independent and chain pharmacies, county and local sites, federally qualified health centers, acute care hospitals, urgent care, and university sites. In Mendham Township, next Friday, November 12th from 3:00pm - 8:00pm, the Township and the Mendham Township School District are hosting a COVID-19 Vaccination and Flu Shot Clinic at the Mendham Township Middle School (16 Washington Valley Road, Brookside) for students and residents, ages 5 and up. During the Clinic, the following immunizations will be available: * Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for individuals ages 5 - 11. Children receiving the vaccine must be accompanied by an adult. * Booster shots for all three vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) * Flu vaccinations Additionally, anyone who would like to obtain their first COVID-19 vaccination can do so. Appointments are necessary - please click here to sign up<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054ca8aa22aaf58-mendham>am>. If your desired time is not available, feel free to email me directly at sneibart(a)mendhamtownship.org for additional availability. The safety of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was studied in clinical trials of over 3,100 children between the ages of 5 and 11 who received the vaccine, and no serious side effects were detected. Commonly reported side effects in the clinical trial included sore arm, redness and swelling, fatigue, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea and decreased appetite. More children reported side effects after the second dose than after the first dose. Side effects were generally mild to moderate in severity and occurred within two days after vaccination, and most went away within one to two days.<https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes… If you have questions, please refer to the CDC and FDA websites and contact your family physician or healthcare provider. Click here for the FDA fact sheet for recipients and caregivers<https://www.fda.gov/media/153717/download>ad>. Have a great weekend, and take care! Sarah Neibart Mayor, Mendham Township