(WXYZ) — Kids as young as 12 will now be able to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine after a committee voted to recommend the CDC allow those between the ages of 12 and 15 to get the two-shot vaccine.
Related: What metro Detroit parents are saying about getting kids a COVID-19 vaccine
The FDA declared that the Pfizer vaccine is safe and offers strong protection for younger teens based on testing of more than 2,000 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15. They said there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared with 16 among kids given dummy shots. Researchers also found the kids developed higher levels of virus-fighting antibodies than earlier studies measured in young adults.
Related: CDC advisory committee meeting Wednesday on Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids 12-15
Some hospital systems, pharmacies, counties and more in metro Detroit are prepping to begin administering shots to kids between the ages of 12-15.
Check out the details below.
Ford Field
The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine has been authorized for 12-15 year olds. Parents or guardians can bring their children to Ford Field to begin the vaccine series before the clinic closes on May 17. Text EndCOVID to 75049 or call 888-535-6136 (press 1).
Michigan Medicine
Michigan Medicine said it expects to offer vaccine appointments for kids 12-15 as soon as Friday, May 14 if they have Michigan Medicine record numbers.
Appointment scheduling will be online through the MyUofMHealth patient portal or by calling the COVID-19 vaccine scheduling center.
"If your child is over the age of 11, a parent or caregiver needs to obtain proxy access for their child’s health records in order to schedule their vaccination via the MyUofMHealth patient portal."
You can learn more about Michigan Medicine's plans here.
Beaumont
Beaumont Health System also said that parents can begin signing up their children through the Save My Shot program, anticipating the approval.
Once the health system schedules your child, you will be an email invitation. You can also call 800-592-4784 to schedule or bring your child to a walk-in clinic once it begins offering vaccines to kids.
Learn more about Beaumont's plan here.
Henry Ford Health System
Henry Ford said it is finalizing details for the vaccination process for kids age 12-15. The process, they expect, will allow for walk-in vaccinations and for an unvaccinated parent or guardian to get the vaccine onsite if they want it. Children will be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
“We welcome the decision by the FDA to expand the eligibility of the Pfizer vaccine to this younger population. It’s critical that we get as many people vaccinated as possible to bring an end to this pandemic and this move will give a significant boost to this effort. The vaccine will be administered in two doses at least 21 days apart – the same regimen given to those 16 and older," Dr. Adnan Munkarah, the executive VP and chief clinical officer for the health system, said.
Detroit Medical Center
Once CDC allows the vaccination of those ages 12-15, parents interested in scheduling their child for the COVID-19 vaccine can call 313-263-3337 or visit the DMC Children’s Hospital website at http://www.childrensdmc.org
CVS Pharmacy
CVS Health announced that COVID-19 vaccine appointments for kids ages 12 to 15 are now available for scheduling at more than 5,600 Pharmacy locations nationwide, including nearly 70 across Michigan. Beginning May 13, participating CVS Pharmacy locations in Michigan will begin administering the Pfizer vaccine to this newly eligible population. Parental or legal guardian consent is required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
Patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at cvs.com or through the CVS Pharmacy app to ensure availability. Walk-ins are also accepted. The CVS scheduling tool will only display appointments at CVS Pharmacy locations that have the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine once the patient’s age is provided.
Rite Aid Pharmacy
Rite has expanded vaccinations to anyone 12 and older at all locations. Parents or guardians can now schedule appointments for the Pfizer vaccine here.
Ascension
All Ascension Michigan locations – except for the health system's northern Michigan clinic – are accepting vaccination appointments for people 12 to 17 years old at this time. That is because the northern clinic isn't offering the Pfizer vaccine at this time.
Parents looking to schedule appointments should click here, and choose "Michigan" to search for appointments in your area. For children 12 to 17, choose the Pfizer vaccine option when setting up an appointment, as some clinics may not have that particular vaccine available.
Locations include:
- Mid-Michigan: Ascension Genesys Conference and Banquet Center
- Northern Michigan: Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital - Health Education Center (not accepting 12-17-year-olds as they are not administering the Pfizer vax.)
- Southeast Michigan: City of Southfield Civic Center Pavilion and other sites
- West Michigan: Kalamazoo County Expo Center
- Ascension MyHealth Urgent Care - Southfield
- Ascension MyHealth Urgent Care - Troy
City of Detroit
Any Detroit child age 12 or older may be to be brought by a parent or guardian to any city-run vaccination clinic to receive their shot.
Starting Wednesday, parents can either call to schedule an appointment for their child or children ages 12-15, or go straight to one of the clinics run by the health department. Locations currently available are:
M-F locations (hours vary)
- TCF Center
- Northwest Activities Center
- Samaritan Center
- Farwell Recreation Center
- Roberto Clemente Recreation Center
- Clark Park
- Straight Gate Church
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.