Covid vaccine for children 5-11 available at Milwaukee Health Department centers; school clinics begin Nov. 8

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is now available without appointment for children ages 5-11 at Milwaukee Health Department health centers. The City of Milwaukee Health Department made the announcement in a release Thursday, Nov. 4.

CBS 58 stopped by Hayat Pharmacy Thursday, and heard from a few brave kids who told us why they got their first shots. 

"I think it's very important to help us stay safe and stop the spread," one child said. 

"I'm excited to be more like adults and have my shot and I'm more safer in the environment," said another. 

Starting on Monday, Nov. 8, the health department will also partner with Milwaukee Public Schools, Seton Catholic Schools and Children's Wisconsin to vaccinate children at 22 community clinics. The Milwaukee Health Department will host one to two vaccine clinics per day from Nov. 8-23. Beginning Nov. 29, the same cycle of 22 schools will repeat to administer second doses, with all second dose clinics finished on Dec. 14.

Children who receive their COVID-19 vaccine at Milwaukee Health Department centers will be given a free ticket to the Milwaukee County Zoo while supplies last. 

All children under the age of 18 will require permission from a parent or guardian to receive the vaccine. 

“This is another stride forward in our work to rid our community of COVID-19," said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. "Vaccination is the best way we can protect ourselves, our families and our community. I encourage every parent of an eligible child to seek good information, talk to medical professionals and make good decisions about vaccinations.”

Children ages 5-11 will receive one-third of the adult dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and a second dose three weeks after the first shot. Smaller needles, designed specifically for children, are used to administer the vaccine to this age demographic.

The health department says although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared to adults, it's still important for all eligible children to receive their vaccine.

Currently, 19.7% of total confirmed Covid cases are within children under the age of 12, according to the Milwaukee Health Department.

Free vaccines are available without an appointment at the following Milwaukee Health Department center locations:

Northwest Health Center
7630 W. Mill Rd.
*Former Mill Road Library
Mondays & Fridays: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12 - 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Southside Health Center
1639 S. 23rd St.
*Drive-thru site. Enter from 24th St.
Mondays & Fridays: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 12 - 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Menomonee Valley Drive-Thru Site
2401 W. St. Paul Ave.
Monday, Wednesday, Fridays: 12 - 6 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Additional vaccination opportunities can be found on Milwaukee.gov/COVIDvax and HealthyMKE.com.

The school schedule for first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine can be found below:

Monday, November 8

• Hartford University School2227 E. Hartford Avenue9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Townsend Public School3360 N. Sherman Boulevard1 p.m. – 4 p.m.Tuesday, November 9
• Marshall High School4141 N. 64th Street9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• St. Margaret Mary3950 N. 92nd Street1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Wednesday, November 10
• Brown Street Academy2029 N. 20th Street9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Ascension All Saints Family Health Center2400 W. Villard Avenue1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Catholic East Holy Rosary2038 N. Bartlett Avenue1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Thursday, November 11
• Our Lady Queen of Peace233 W. Euclid Avenue9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Longfellow Public School1021 S. 21st Street 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.Friday, November 12
• Barack Obama High School5075 N. Sherman Boulevard9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Kilbourn Public School5354 N. 68th Street1 p.m. – 4 p.m.Monday, November 15
• St. Roman1810 W. Bolivar Avenue9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• St. Rafael2251 S. 31st Street1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Tuesday, November 16
• UWM Union2200 E. Kenwood Boulevard10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Northwest Catholic7140 N. 41st Street1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Wednesday, November 17
• St. Thomas Aquinas Academy341 E. Norwich Avenue9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Ascension All Saints Family Health Center2400 W. Villard Avenue1 p.m. – 4 p.m.Thursday, November 18
• St. Charles Borromeo3100 W. Parnell Avenue9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Victory K8 & Italian Immersion School2222 W. Henry Avenue1 p.m. – 4 p.m.Friday, November 19
• Allen-Field Elementary730 W. Lapham Boulevard9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Prince of Peace1114 S. 25th Street1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Monday, November 22
• Bethune Academy1535 N. 35th Street9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• St. Catherine2647 N. 51st Street1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  Tuesday, November 23
• LaFollette Public School3239 N. 9th Street9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Benjamin Franklin Elementary2308 W. Nash Street1 p.m. – 4 p.m.