Children ages 5 to 11 are now able to get the COVID-19 vaccine after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend the lower-dose Pfizer-BioNTech shot for kids.

CDC director Rochelle Walensky issued the recommendation just hours after the panel’s vote, paving the way for localities to begin administering shots to children. Now, local health officials are preparing to move forward with plans to vaccinate kids under 12 in the D.C. region, though it may take days for the vaccine to become more widely available.

District and county health officials said they expected the vaccines to arrive within one to five days of Tuesday’s CDC vote. They are working to make vaccines available at schools, community vaccination sites, pop-up clinics, pharmacies, pediatrician offices, and other health care facilities. The 5 to 11-year-old age group is one of the last to get the vaccine, which has left them more vulnerable to contracting COVID and transmitting it to others — especially after the school year started in-person.

Since July in Virginia, 5 to 11 year olds have made up the highest number of COVID cases in the pediatric age group (all children between 0 and 17), according to Virginia Department of Health data. In Montgomery County, health data indicate that out of the more than 5,000 cases in October and September, more than 15% were in the 0 to 9-year-old age group.

Here’s how D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are preparing to make vaccines available for children under 12. This story will be updated as additional localities release detailed plans.

D.C.
Montgomery County
Prince George’s County
Fairfax County
Alexandria
Arlington

Montgomery County

Montgomery County health officials said they’re expecting a shipment of 40,000 vaccines for up to 12 middle and elementary schools and six community vaccination sites.

The county is also ramping up a campaign to inform parents.

“We will be using Whatsapp and other media platforms to get notification and information regarding the efficacy of the vaccines,” Dr. James Bridgers, a county health official, told reporters Thursday.

The county’s department of health is working with schools to identify and prioritize students who are immunocompromised. The department is also contracting teams to provide rotating pop-up clinics in areas of the county of greatest need on behalf of the African American Health Program and other minority health initiatives.

Dr. Earl Stoddard, the county’s chief administration officer, told reporters they’re working to make sure vaccines are accessible to all communities.

“We’re obviously keenly aware of the fact that we have continued to keep kids educated while at schools and so many of these hours are going to be at nights and weekends,” Stoddard said.

Several schools and recreation centers are now open and taking appointments for children’s vaccines in the county. You can see locations, hours, and appointment booking options here. 

Prince George’s County

The county health department announced that it is setting up clinics in high schools and elementary schools, in partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools. Clinics will open open up November 8th and shots will be available for residents five and older.

“As a pediatrician and a father, I know how critical vaccines have been for decades to protect children and those around them from a variety of infectious diseases,” said Prince George’s County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services, and Education Dr. George L. Askew, in a press release.

A county press release added that free vaccines for eligible children will also be available at many pediatricians’ offices, retail and grocery store pharmacies, hospitals, and other health care providers.

Each clinic will have Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, however only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized by the Food & Drug Administration for children under 12. Children younger than 18 must have a completed consent form to receive a vaccine.

On Friday, Nov. 5, the county added a slew of elementary school locations to its mobile clinic roster, which will run through December. You can book appointments online, or walk-in. See the full schedule, locations, and hours for elementary school clinics here. 

The county’s mobile clinic schedule at high schools is as follows.

Monday clinics

November 8, November 15, November 22 (first-dose clinic)

November 29, December 6, December 13 (second-dose clinic)

Laurel High School in Laurel
3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine
3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Tuesday clinics

November 9, November 16, November 23 (first-dose clinic)

November 30, December 7, December 14 (second-dose clinic)

Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Henry A. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday Clinics

November 10, November 17, November 24 (first-dose clinic)

December 1, December 8, December 15 (second-dose clinic)

Northwestern High School in Adelphi
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Fairmont Heights High School in Landover
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Thursday Clinics

November 18 (first-dose clinic)

December 9 (second-dose clinic)

Bowie High School in Bowie
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Suitland High School in District Heights
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Friendly High School in Fort Washington
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Friday Clinics

November 12, November 19 (first-dose clinic)

December 3, December 10 (second-dose clinic)

High Point High School in Beltsville
3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Surrattsville High School in Clinton
3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Crossland High School in Camp Springs
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Fairfax County

Fairfax’s Department of Health will be offering vaccines to 5 to 11-year-olds by appointment only. The vaccine will also be available at the Tysons Community Vaccination Center, local pharmacies and pediatrician offices by appointment. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment at one of the county’s vaccination sites here.

Alexandria

Alexandria’s Health Department will be administering doses to children by appointment only, starting Friday, Nov. 5. You can make an appointment online.

Charles Houston Recreation Center
Friday, Nov. 5: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Alexandria City High School
Saturday, Nov. 6 : 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Arlington County

Arlington County will be offering the kids vaccine at its public health clinics and pharmacies. According to the county’s health department, supply will be limited at first, but appointment availability will increase in the coming weeks. Starting this weekend, the children’s vaccine will be available by appointment only at Walter Reed Community Center, and Arlington Mill Community Center during the following hours:

Saturday Nov. 6, Sunday Nov. 7: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday Nov. 8 – Friday Nov. 12: 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Nov. 13, Sunday Nov. 14: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The District

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Health announced that the District will receive 24,600 doses for children under 12. These doses will be administered at 60 pharmacies, hospitals, and health centers across the city.

For 5 to 11-year-old children, DC Health is hosting pop-up vaccination sites at middle and elementary schools in all eight wards. The first two clinics will take place Friday, Nov. 5. From 3:30-7:30 p.m., children can get their vaccines at the Takoma Community Center in Ward 4, or the Ft. Stanton Recreation Center in Ward 8. Visit the mayor’s website for a full list of the more than 30 pop-up locations. D.C. already has pop-up locations scheduled from Nov. 8 through Nov. 20. (D.C. is also asking interested community groups to request pop-up sites through its Vaccine Exchange website.)

The vaccine for children under 12 won’t be immediately available at the District’s walk-up “Take the Shot” sites. The jab will be available at pharmacies like CVS, Grubb’s, Safeway, Giant, Walgreens, and Walmart and health clinics later this week, per the announcement. DC Health released a full list of pharmacies, clinics, and community centers where the vaccine will be available. Children’s National health clinics will only make appointments for current patients to be vaccinated, but their hospitals in Columbia Heights and Prince George’s County are taking appointments for any 5-11 year  old children.

Children’s National Hospital will also be administering the vaccine to children through its mobile units — the hospital’s “big, blue wheelchair-accessible” RVs.

D.C. lawmakers have proposed requiring kids to receive the COVID vaccination as soon as December 15, though the bill, introduced by At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson has received pushback. It would make the District one of the first U.S. jurisdictions to require a coronavirus vaccine for children — but critics say the policy would be too rushed and cause problems within schools. Others argue the mandate would have a negative impact on students in wards 7 and 8, where vaccination rates are worse than other wards, forcing unvaccinated students to miss class.

The District’s pop-up vaccine locations for children under 12 will be as follows. (Specific dates for each site can be found here):

Ward 1:
Bancroft Elementary School – First dose: 11/9
Marie Reed Elementary School – First dose: 11/12

Ward 2: 
Edlavitch DCJCC – First dose: 11/7
Garrison Elementary School – First dose: 11/17
Thomson Elementary School – First dose: 11/12

Ward 3:
Ben Murch Elementary School – First dose: 11/13
Janney Elementary School – First dose: 11/19
Palisades Recreation Center – First dose: 11/16

Ward 4:
Center City Public Charter School (Brightwood Campus) – First dose: 11/9
Dorothy I. Height Elementary School – First dose: 11/8
E.L. Haynes PCS – First dose: 11/18
Lafayette Elementary School – First dose: 11/19
Whittier Elementary School – First dose: 11/20

Ward 5:
Bunker Hill Elementary School – First dose: 11/18
Center City Public Charter School (Trinidad Campus) – First dose: 11/17
DC Bilingual PCS – First dose: 11/20
Noyes Elementary School – First dose: 11/8

Ward 6:
Kennedy Recreation Center – First dose: 11/10
KIPP DC, Lead Academy PCS – First dose: 11/16
Payne Elementary School – First dose: 11/13

Ward 7:
Friendship Blow Pierce Elementary & Middle School – First dose: 11/12
Kimball Elementary School – First dose: 11/9
Plummer Elementary School – First dose: 11/17
Smothers Elementary School – First dose: 11/13
Thomas Elementary School – First dose: 11/19

Ward 8:
Center City PCS (Congress Heights) – First dose: 11/18
Excel Academy Public School – First dose: 11/16
Ingenuity Prep Public Charter School/Statesman Academy – First dose: 11/8
KIPP DC Heights Academy – First dose: 11/10
Patterson Elementary School – First dose: 11/10
Turner Elementary School – First dose: 11/20

And here’s a map of where to find vaccination sites by Chelsea Cirruzzo for Axios D.C.

This story has been updated with additional information children’s vaccines in the D.C. region. 

Mary Tyler March and Colleen Grablick contributed reporting.