For the Tomahawk Leader

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Aspirus Health announced on Friday, Nov. 12 that it will offer Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccines for qualifying adults at its clinic locations in Rhinelander and Woodruff.

Pfizer pediatric vaccines for ages 5-11 will also be offered in Rhinelander.

Appointments are required for all locations and will be scheduled based on vaccine availability.

“The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has authorized booster vaccines for individuals 65 years and older, residents in long-term care settings, people with certain medical conditions (www.bit.ly/3c3lEit) and adults who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional setting,” Aspirus said in a release,

Moderna boosters and Pfizer pediatric vaccines will be available at the following locations:

• Aspirus Woodruff Clinic – 240 Maple St., located on the campus of Howard Young Medical Center. Various times are now available, and appointments are required by calling 715-356-8140.
• Aspirus Rhinelander Clinic – 2251 North Shore Dr., located on the campus of St. Mary’s Hospital. Various times are available, starting Monday, Nov. 15, and appointments are required by calling 715-361-4850.

Pfizer pediatric vaccines for children ages 5-11 years old will also be available at Aspirus Rhinelander Clinic. The first dose will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The required second dose will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are required by calling 715-361-4092.

“CDC recently endorsed a recommendation to vaccinate children ages 5-11 against COVID-19,” Aspirus stated. “A smaller dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use with this age group.”

A CDC study published earlier in Sept. 2021 (www.bit.ly/3qwbE9K) found that hospitalization rates were 10 times higher among unvaccinated kids than among fully vaccinated kids.

“It’s important to vaccinate kids because although their risk is lower than that of adults, kids are still getting sick and are still dying from COVID-19,” said Dr. Robyn Schertz, System Senior Physician Executive – Aspirus Medical Group North. “So, it’s important to have that option to keep your children safe.”

Preliminary data (www.fda.gov/media/153409/download) show the Pfizer vaccine is safe and 90.7 percent effective among children ages 5 to 11. Clinical trials also show the vaccine is effective against the highly contagious delta variant.

“Vaccines in general are one of the most important tools in general that we have in our arsenal to keep kids healthy and out of hospitals,” Dr. Schertz stated. “And the COVID-19 vaccine is yet another resource for us to make sure your children are protected.”