MIAMI, Fla. – As Pfizer awaits federal approval for younger patients to receive its COVID vaccine, Jackson Health System announced it has plans to temporarily resume its public vaccination program to serve patients who are 12 to 18 years old.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15 years old sometime as early as next week. The vaccine is currently authorized only for people age 16 and older.
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As soon as the FDA’s decision is made, Jackson Health System CEO Carlos A. Migoya said appointments will be accessible immediately via its online portal at www.JacksonHealth.org.
As with the adult population, second doses for the age group will be administered 21 days later.
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“Since December, Jackson has been a leader in Miami-Dade’s vaccination efforts, and it is our responsibility to offer this service to young people in our community,” Migoya said.
Migoya said UHealth Jackson Children’s Care will administer the vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 18 at the following eight locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week:
- Holtz Children’s Hospital, 951 NW 17th Street, Miami
- Jackson North Medical Center, Pediatric Emergency Department, 160 NW 170th Street, North Miami Beach
- Jackson West Medical Center, which is finishing construction in Doral, via a mobile unit exact location to be announced
- UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Doral, 7400 NW 104th Avenue
- UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Cutler Bay, 18910 South Dixie Highway
- UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Country Walk, 13707 SW 152nd Street, Miami
- UHealth Jackson Urgent Care Keystone Point, 13120 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami
- UHealth Jackson Urgent Care North Dade, 16555 NW 25th Avenue, Miami Gardens
All patients will require proof of age, such as birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, or state ID card. Patients under 18 must be accompanied by parent or legal guardian.
Jackson expects to provide the service temporarily until public and retail providers will be able to provide the pediatric vaccinations.