WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Following authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Novant Health today announced that it will begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11 on Thursday, Nov. 4.
Novant Health may have limited appointments due to initial supply and demand. Novant Health expects to receive additional supply as part of the state’s phased allocation plan and anticipates greater appointment availability across all locations in the near future.
When: Appointments will become available for scheduling on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 8 a.m. Please note, appointments will not be available for scheduling prior to this time. Appointments are required and availability may vary by location.
Where:
- Novant Health Medical Group – Hanes (196 Hanes Mall Circle, Winston-Salem, NC 27103) is open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Novant Health Medical Group – East Mecklenburg (6070 East Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28212) is open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Select Novant Health pediatric and family medicine clinics across North Carolina in the Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Coastal markets.
Who: You do not have to be a Novant Health patient to schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination site. Established patients can make an appointment at their primary care clinic, if it is available there, or at a mass vaccination site.
How to schedule:
1. MyChart: Anyone can create a MyChart account by visiting MyNovant.org. Legal guardians have primary access to a child’s MyChart account through age 11. To schedule a vaccination, a legal guardian can log in to their own MyChart account and select the child’s user profile. Appointment availability can be accessed under Schedule an Appointment. For children 12 and over, legal guardians may request to have proxy access to a child’s MyChart account, which includes the ability to schedule or modify appointments on behalf of their child.
2. GetVaccinated.org: Anyone can schedule an appointment online.
3. Pediatric clinics: Established patients are encouraged to check their pediatric clinic’s website or Facebook page to find out if their clinic is offering the vaccine and find out how to schedule a vaccine.
Please note, appointment availability may be limited as supply allows. If there is not appointment availability, please check back daily.
Additional information:
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for children 5 through 11 years of age is administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart, but is a lower dose (10 micrograms) and a different formulation than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms). Prior to today’s authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID -19 vaccine to include children 5 through 11 years of age, the vaccine was authorized for people ages 12 and older.
To date, Novant Health has administered over 35,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to young adults ages 12 to 17, with nearly 17,000 of those patients now fully vaccinated with two doses. Overall, the health care system has administered over 570,000 doses of all vaccine, with more than 285,000 fully vaccinated.
Top questions:
Will children ages 5 to 11 receive the same vaccine as those 12 and up?
No. Those in the 5-to-11 age group will receive a vaccine that is one-third of the dose given to those ages 12 and up.
Is this a two-dose series?
Yes. All children ages 5 to 11 must receive two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, three weeks apart.
How do I find out if my child’s pediatrician is offering vaccine?
The number of clinics with vaccine will change daily. Please check your pediatric clinic’s website or Facebook page to find out how to schedule the vaccine for your child.
If my child already has an upcoming appointment scheduled for something else, can they get the COVID vaccine during this same appointment, or do I need to schedule this separately?
Yes. If your child’s pediatric clinic has vaccine available, it may be administered at that time.
Will Novant Health have enough vaccine for my child to have the second dose? Will this appointment be scheduled automatically?
Yes. The second dose appointment will be scheduled on-site during the first dose appointment.
Will legal guardians need to provide proof of age to verify eligibility?
No. Parents will be asked to attest their child’s age.
Will patients 5 to 11-years-old need a parent or guardian with them? Do they need parental consent to receive the vaccine?
Yes. North Carolina passed a new law that requires written or electronic consent from a parent/guardian for a minor to receive a vaccine that has been granted an emergency use authorization and is not fully approved by the FDA. This includes the Pfizer COVID-vaccine. Parents/guardians will be able to complete this step in MyChart, using the electronic check-in function. Minors who are 16 or 17 can give their own consent for the vaccine, and written parental consent is not required because the Pfizer vaccine is fully FDA approved for those age 16 and older.
Is the vaccine free for all ages?
Yes. All COVID-19 vaccines are free for every individual, including those who do not have insurance.
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