News Flash

For Immediate Release

05/17/2021    

COVID-19 Information

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVID-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Vaccine Information

Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVIDvaccine
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Rowan County COVID-19 Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

As Summer Begins, Make Plans to Get All Eligible, Younger Family Members Vaccinated ASAP

Based on a recent review of safety and effectiveness data from clinical trials in the United States and the expanded emergency authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the CDC now recommend the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 through 15.

"Parents and guardians can rest assured that the agency undertook a rigorous and thorough review of all available data, as we have with all of our COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations," said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D..

With the new CDC recommendation, North Carolina teens ages 12 and older can now get vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves from COVID-19, including preventing virus-related hospitalizations and deaths. The NC Department of Health and Human Services' State Health Director has now authorized that health care providers can administer the Pfizer vaccine to adolescents ages 12 through 15.

By having a vaccine for our younger teens, this brings us that much closer to being able to end the pandemic. Also, by getting more teens vaccinated, they are not only protecting themselves from the impact of COVID, but they are also protecting their families and their communities by stopping the spread of the virus.

Young people are vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, just like everyone else. In North Carolina, close to 123,000 children 0 to 17 years old have tested positive for COVID-19. With new variants, some parts of the country are seeing increased rates of COVID-19 in children and teens. In North Carolina, the percent of COVID-19 cases in children 17 and under has also been increasing.

 In the clinical trials, the most commonly reported temporary reactions among teens were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain. These typically lasted between one and three days and were similar to those reported in clinical trial participants 16 years of age and older.  To find local providers with the Pfizer vaccine, go to MySpot.nc.gov and filter for Pfizer.

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Contact:
Amy Smith
704-216-8859
amy.smith@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - May 17, 2021 (PDF)