Plans underway to administer COVID-19 vaccines to kids ages 12-15 in Milwaukee schools

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- COVID-19 vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-old kids could be rolling out in Milwaukee as soon as this week, and then next week in Milwaukee schools.

The Milwaukee Health Department says as soon as they get the green light from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Wisconsin DHS, vaccinations for kids ages 12 to 15 will happen at the Wisconsin Center, Northwest Health Center, Southside Health Center and mobile vaccination clinics.

“It certainly is a step in the right direction,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

MHD says they are working with Milwaukee Public Schools and other schools in the city to administer Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines as soon as next week.

“I think from our perspective, we just want to make sure that kids have access, and knowing that a large number of 12 to 15-year-olds are actually in school in person in the city, we want to again bring the vaccine to them,” said Kirsten Johnson, Milwaukee health commissioner.

“There’s a desire from all parties to be able to have these in schools for the kids,” adds Mayor Barrett. “We’re going to obviously have to work out some of the issues relating to permission from parents or guardians.”

Johnson says the permission slip would only require one signature for both Pfizer doses, she says the city and state do have a sufficient number of doses.

“We do have a rough estimate of how many students that may be and how many vaccines to bring,” Johnson said. “We’re working with MPS and other schools to make sure we can get shots in arms.”

Doctors say the FDA’s authorization on Tuesday, May 10 is welcomed news for both parents and children as the community tries to reach herd immunity.

“It’s going to allow us to be able to do more things with our society, in the hopes that we could get to the point where we don’t have to mask anymore either,” said Dr. Kevin Dahlman, a pediatrician at Aurora Children’s Health.

Doctors say the Pfizer vaccine dosage for 12 to 15-year-old kids will remain the same as doses given to people 16 and older. They say the vaccine is safe and encourage parents to have their child immunized.

“Just as you vaccinated your child for measles, for mumps, hepatitis, for meningitis to protect them from those diseases, so too should you protect them from COVID,” said Dr. Ben Weston, medical director for Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management.

Johnson says kids who get their first dose at the Wisconsin Center will have second dose scheduled at either Milwaukee’s Northwest or Southside health center. She says a parent must be present for the child to get their first dose.