UCHealth is offering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to people 12 and older as of Thursday statewide, but the first-dose clinic locally in Steamboat will be next Tuesday, May 18. Walk-ins are welcome from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Appointments are available from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Those same times will be available again on Wednesday, May 26.

The FDA has allowed the use in adolescents and the CDC approved the vaccine for those ages 12 to 15 on Wednesday. Clinic trials show the vaccine in this age group is 100% effective. Parental consent is required for anyone ages 12 to 17 getting vaccinated.

Here’s more from UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center on how to schedule an appointment.

There are two options to get the COVID-19 vaccine at UCHealth clinics. People can schedule an appointment through My Health Connection, or they can walk in to any of our vaccine clinics. For a list of clinic locations, or to schedule an appointment, people can visit www.uchealth.org/covidvaccine .

Parental consent is required for anyone 12-17 years old. For their first dose at a UCHealth vaccine clinic, adolescents should be accompanied by a parent or guardian or have a parent or guardian sign UCHealth’s Vaccine Consent Form for Minors and bring it with them. (versión en Español) 

“UCHealth has been preparing for several weeks to be able to offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to adolescents,” said Dr. Michelle Barron, Senior Medical Director of Infection Prevention for UCHealth. “The State of Colorado and our hospitals have seen increasing numbers of young people contracting COVID-19, and some have experienced longer-term complications. I’m happy to see the vaccine eligibility has expanded because I want as many people as possible to be protected from this virus.”

 

 

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers from UCHealth:

Q: Children don’t get very sick with COVID-19. Why should I get my child vaccinated?

A: While children are at a lower risk of serious illness from COVID-19, they make up a larger share of the new virus cases across the U.S. as more adults get vaccinated. Children can still have symptoms and spread the virus to the adults around them. And doctors don’t always know which children are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19 and need hospital care. Getting a vaccine will lower the chance of illness for all children. People under age 21 make up about 25% of the U.S. population. If many children get a COVID-19 vaccine, the chance of reaching herd immunity — when lots of people are immune to a disease — goes up. There are many safe and effective vaccines for children for diseases like whooping cough, measles and meningitis. Providing vaccines for COVID-19 will become a standard measure of care to protect children.

 

Q: Will the COVID-19 vaccine affect my child’s fertility?

A: No. The vaccine does not get incorporated into or change the DNA of the body’s cells in any way. There is no reason to worry that the vaccine will affect your child’s fertility.

 

Q: My child already had COVID-19. Should they get the vaccine?

A: Yes. We don’t know how long immunity lasts after someone gets COVID-19. The vaccine is made to create a longer-lasting immune response.

 

UCHealth has made important advances to make vaccines more available, especially for those without access to a computer or smartphone, by establishing a COVID-19 vaccine hotline. Anyone who is unable to create a My Health Connection account may call the hotline where staff members can help to search for appointments. Translation services are available to ensure everyone can be cared for.

 

UCHealth COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 720-462-2255 (Español: 844.945.2508).