Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) has partnered with several local school districts to begin vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 years old at sites across the region.

“Day Kimball Healthcare is very pleased to partner with our local school districts for this next chapter in the fight against COVID-19. The more people who can get vaccinated – including children – the better we can protect our community and put this pandemic behind us,” said Kyle Kramer, chief executive officer, Day Kimball Healthcare. “By vaccinating the 5 to 11 age group we are one step closer to getting back to some normalcy. We are excited that parents and guardians have several opportunities to have their 5-11-year-olds vaccinated, including vaccine clinics, pharmacies and pediatrician’s offices. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and we look forward to helping vaccinate the children in our community and their families.” 

On November 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced final emergency use authorization and recommendation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The vaccine was previously authorized for emergency use in adolescents ages 12 and older and has full FDA approval for use in individuals ages 16 and older.

As Northeast Connecticut’s major healthcare provider, Day Kimball Healthcare is collaborating with local schools to ensure that children and families have access to evidence-based resources and safe, age-appropriate vaccination sites in their local communities. 

DKH held its first pediatric COVID-19 vaccination clinic for children ages 5-11 at Plainfield High School, on Wednesday, November 10, where 150 youth were vaccinated. A similar clinic was held on Friday, November 12 at Putnam Middle School in partnership with the Putnam, Thompson, and Woodstock school districts, where 300 more of the area’s youth were vaccinated. Parents or guardians who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine and those who needed a booster, were able to do so at the clinics as well. 

DKH is planning additional vaccine clinics and will announce them as they are planned. For more information visit www.daykimball.org/coronavirus. 

PHOTO CAPTION: Day Kimball Healthcare partnered with the Putnam, Thompson, and Woodstock school districts to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations to youth ages 5+ at Putnam Middle School on Friday, November 12. Pictured left to right: Dan Durand, BS, RN, ICU Clinical Manager, Day Kimball Healthcare; Bob Viens, Chief of Pharmacy, Day Kimball Healthcare; Janice Thurlow, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Day Kimball Healthcare; Dan Sullivan, Putnam Schools Superintendent; Melinda Smith, Thompson Schools Superintendent; Viktor Toth, Woodstock Schools Superintendent; and Kyle Kramer, Chief Executive Officer, Day Kimball Healthcare.