RRH COVID-19 Vaccine Update: RRH Prepares for Youth Vaccinations (5.13.21)

Ridgecrest Regional Hospital (RRH) is working on a plan to expediently and efficiently implement the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to offer youth 12 and older the COVID-19 vaccine.

The last week has seen rapid advancements in making the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19 available to youth in the 12 – 15 year age group. RRH has already reached out to local school administrators in hopes of partnering with them to begin making the vaccines available to interested middle- and high-schoolers.

School officials will be coordinating outreach to parents, and RRH will work with health care providers to administer vaccines.

Because RRH depends on Kern County for vaccine supply, and because the Pfizer has a short shelf life, hospital coordinators are working as quickly as possible to determine times, dates and locations for clinics.

“Whilst we are not able to provide answers to all of the public’s questions at this stage, our clinics and providers are prepared to work with parents and guardians on the ages and eligibility of their teens for vaccination,” said Michelle Whalley, RRH Clinic Administrator and Vaccine Task Force Leader.

RRH will provide updates as soon as they are available.

For more information, please see the American Academy of Pediatrics news release HERE.