Where to get a vaccine in Utah for 12 to 15 year olds

May 13, 2021, 9:07 AM | Updated: 4:49 pm

Granite School District teachers and staff wait in line to receive the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine at Hunter Junior High School in West Valley City on Friday, Jan.15, 2021. Laura Seitz, Deseret News

BY MARY RICHARDS

Former Reporter

SALT LAKE CITY — More places are offering to give the COVID-19 vaccine to kids ages 12 to 15 in Utah.

Several local health departments say you can sign your child up for the first dose this week or early next.

While officially, the Salt Lake County Health Department plans to begin offering the Pfizer vaccine to kids ages 12 and older starting on Monday, you could get it sooner. Parents who come to one of the county health department clinics Thursday, Friday or Saturday looking for a teen vaccine will not be turned away, health officials said.

.@SaltLakeHealth says “parents who come to one of our Salt Lake County Health Department venues today, tomorrow, or Saturday looking for a vaccine for their teens won’t be turned away.”

— Mary Richards (@kslmrichards) May 13, 2021

The Davis County Health Department says those appointments are available Thursday and Friday, and the Utah County Health Department says Friday. Parents in the Weber-Morgan Health Department’s area of coverage can begin to sign up their teens right away.

💥 COVID-19 VACCINATION ANNOUNCEMENT 💥

Appointments for the Pfizer vaccine are now available to be made for anyone 12 years of age and older at the Legacy Events Center in Farmington.

— Davis County Health (@DavisCountyHlth) May 13, 2021

Schedule at https://t.co/tzpNbUda2g

Legal guardians should accompany the minor to the appt.
If the legal guardian cannot come, they need to sign the vaccination form & call to give permission at the time of the appt. The minor still needs to be accompanied by an adult with ID. pic.twitter.com/um8sia2XTO

— UtahCountyHealthDept (@UCHD) May 12, 2021

Appointments are available now on VaccinateUtah. See: https://t.co/AEvPgDat35 pic.twitter.com/nTtZRBiNxh

— Weber-Morgan Health (@WeberMorganHD) May 13, 2021

We are thrilled that the FDA’s research determined the Pfizer #COVID19 vaccine is safe and effective for 12-15 year olds, and that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to back this.

Starting this MONDAY, we will begin vaccinating this population. pic.twitter.com/vUsAde1mC4

— Salt Lake Health (@SaltLakeHealth) May 12, 2021

The Tri-County Health Department in eastern Utah started vaccinating that age group Wednesday night.

CVS Pharmacies is offering the vaccine for 12-15-year-olds starting today.

It’s the first day that kids in Utah as young as 12 can receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s the line outside the Legacy Events Center in Farmington. I got coverage on @kslnewsradio coming up at noon. pic.twitter.com/QX7dgeaJxz

— John Wojcik (@wojKSL) May 13, 2021

In all of these places, parental or legal guardian consent is required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Utah teen describes frustrations of long-haul COVID-19

Vaccine for 12-15 year olds

The Roberts family told KSL TV they are signing up their teenagers.

“I want my kids to be protected, and I don’t ever want to have to go through those symptoms again,” said Jennifer Roberts. Their family got Covid-19 in December.

14-year-old Drake Roberts had a mild case of the virus.

“I am definitely going to get it. I don’t’ want to have to catch that again or I don’t want anyone around me to catch it,” he said.

Meanwhile, a new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows how some parents feel about vaccinating their kids. One in three parents say they will wait to see if the vaccine is effective, and 20-percent say they won’t get their kids vaccinated.

Dr. Darin Bosworth with Wasatch Pediatrics says it’s good to be cautious, but he feels the vaccine is safe and effective.

8 and 9 year old West Jordan brothers volunteer for the Moderna COVID-19

“We now have the benefit of knowing it’s been used in adults, sixteen and above for some time now with very little side effects. And now fortunately we’re able to lower that age to 12 which I think it great,” he said.

Wasatch Pediatrics says they hope to start vaccinating 12-15-year-olds as early as next week. You can check with your pediatrician, too, and ask them about any concerns.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Wear a mask.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.
Get vaccinated.