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Click here for raw video of Dr. David Priest discussing Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds

Following approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Novant Health announced that it is prepared to begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children 12 to 15-years-old as soon as Thursday, May 13 at 3 p.m.

Please note, Novant Health will not begin administering the vaccine for this age group until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s federal vaccine advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), issues its final recommendation. The ACIP is scheduled to vote tomorrow afternoon.

To date, Novant Health has administered over 7,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to young adults aged 16 and 17, with nearly 2,500 patients now fully vaccinated with two doses. Overall, the health care system has administered over 460,000 doses of all vaccine, which includes 225,000 fully vaccinated.

When:  Contingent on an ACIP vote to approve the vaccine and the CDC’s adoption of the recommendation, Novant Health will accept walk-ins for this age group beginning Thursday, May 13 at 3 p.m. While walk-ins are accepted at all permanent vaccination sites, we continue to encourage everyone to schedule an appointment.

Locations:

• Novant Health Medical Group – Hanes (196 Hanes Mall Circle, Winston-Salem, NC 27103) is open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group – East Mecklenburg (6070 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28212) is open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group – Freedom Drive (3149 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208) is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group – Huntersville (17220 Northcross Drive, Suite 110, Huntersville, NC 28078) is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Novant Health Medical Group – Salisbury (J.F. Hurley YMCA 828 Jake Alexander Blvd. W Salisbury, NC 28147) is open from Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Note: all hours are subject to change. We encourage everyone to verify current operating hours before visiting a site at GetVaccinated.Org.

Who: You do not have to be a Novant Health patient to make an appointment or walk-in to a vaccination site.

How to schedule: While walk-ins are accepted at all permanent vaccination sites, we continue to encourage everyone to schedule an appointment:

• MyChart: legal guardians do not have primary access to a child’s MyChart account at age 12, however, they may request proxy access, which includes the ability schedule or modify appointments on behalf of their child.

To schedule a vaccination, a legal guardian can log-in to their own MyChart account and select the child’s user profile. Alternatively, a child 12 to 15 years-old with a MyChart account can schedule their vaccination. Appointment availability can be accessed under Visits à Schedule an appointment.

• GetVaccinated.org: Anyone can schedule an appointment online, including individuals who are 12 to 15 years old.
• Clinics: established patients are able to call their child’s clinic to schedule an appointment at that clinic, if it is offering the vaccine, or at the nearest Novant Health vaccination site.
• Those who do not have access to the internet or a primary care provider can call 855-NH-VAC-4U (855-648-2248) for scheduling assistance.

NOTE: MyChart is the best way to schedule an appointment. Anyone can create a MyChart account by visiting MyNovant.Org.

Expert availability: On Thursday, May 13 at 9:30 a.m., Dr. David Priest, chief safety, quality and epidemiology officer, and Dr. Catherine Ohmstede, a pediatrician and physician lead of the Novant Health Children’s Health Institute will be available for questions. To join this media briefing, please respond to this email or RSVP to publicrelations@novanthealth.org

Top questions:

1. Is the vaccine free?                

Yes. All COVID-19 vaccines are free for every individual, including those who do not have insurance.

2. Is identification required?

No. Individuals will not be asked for any identification or proof of residency. Insurance is not required, however patients are asked for insurance information if they have it for filing of the administration of the vaccine purposes only.

3. Does a minor need to be accompanied by an adult at their vaccination? Is consent required prior to vaccination?

No. North Carolina state law allows any minor to give consent for medical health services for the prevention or treatment of communicable diseases. As such, those who are 12 to 17 years-old will not need to have a parent or legal guardian schedule, accompany or give verbal or written consent for the vaccine.

4. Why should children get vaccinated? How effective is the vaccine for children? What do we tell parents who are hesitant?

Visit this Healthy Headlines for a Q&A with Dr. David Priest, Chief Safety, Quality and Epidemiology.

For more FAQs, please visit: GetVaccinated.org