The town Health Department expects that sometime next month it will administer 300 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11.
Health and Human Services Director Heidi Porter told the Board of Health Monday that although the vaccine is “not in our hands yet, we are starting our rollout planning.” She said Saturday clinics are being considered.
Vaccines for younger children are working their way through the federal approval process, which should culminate with approval by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There’s a little discussion about folks being concerned, but we know this vaccine is safe and we are highly promoting folks to come to us,” Porter said. State health officials have opted not to set up mass vaccination sites, so “now we are considered a vaccine partner.”
Porter added that the state agency “is relying on pediatricians as well.” A spokesperson at Bedford Pediatrics confirmed Tuesday that the office expects to have that capacity.
According to the town clerk’s office, there are 978 children in the 5-11 age cohort.
Asked by board member Maureen Richichi about clinics in schools, Porter explained that they would be impractical because of the waiting time that follows inoculation. “We have a great plan now in place, to make it equitable and have enough people come in. This is going to be better from a community perspective.”
She added that her department is moving forward without a public health nurse. The position has been vacant for more than a month; Porter said Tuesday that there are no prospects, “though we’re widely advertising. We’re in the same situation as other offices/businesses looking for help.”
Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763
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