McMahon outlines vaccination plan for kids ages 5-11

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Parents of children ages 5 to 11 who want to get their kids a COVID-19 vaccination will have a few options for getting those shots.

Onondaga County’s plan followed a survey that it conducted with area parents.

County Executive Ryan McMahon shared details during a Thursday afternoon COVID-19 briefing.

Onondaga County’s plan to vaccine children aged 5 to 11 includes school-based clinics. Those interested can set up appointments for next week at Kinney Drugs and Wegmans. The county will also distribute vaccine to area pediatricians who request them. Onondaga County will also hold community-based clinics.

Age 5 to 11 group vaccination options

The first scheduled school-based clinic will be for the Syracuse City Schools at the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central (ITC) on Saturday morning. Clinics at ITC are also set for next Tuesday (11/9), Wednesday (11/10), and Friday (11/12) between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., McMahon said.

“SCSD will be sending out the registration link to all their eligible families,” he added.

In addition, several other Onondaga County school districts are working on organizing clinics as well. They include East Syracuse-Minoa; Onondaga Central; LaFayette; Marcellus; Fayetteville-Manlius; Tully; Jamesville-DeWitt; North Syracuse; West Genesee; Liverpool; Baldwinsville; All Saints; and the Montessori School of Syracuse.

“The links to this will be private links between the school districts and the families,” McMahon said. “Dates and times are being established on these clinics as well.”

He also noted that any district that wants a clinic can have one. The school districts that McMahon mentioned during the briefing are actively organizing their clinics.

Besides the school-based clinics, Onondaga County will conduct clinics for 5 to 11-year-olds at the John H. Mulroy Civic Center in downtown Syracuse on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. beginning Nov. 8 and continuing through Nov. 19. Those interested can register at ongov.net.

McMahon’s office on Friday afternoon announced the expanded morning hours at the Civic Center clinics “to accommodate community demand.”

If area pediatricians are participating in vaccinating 5 to 11-year-olds, Onondaga County will provide their vaccine doses, McMahon noted in his Thursday briefing.

The county also plans to hold pop-up clinics with its partners as well.

Survey results

More than 9.400 people responded to an Onondaga County survey of area parents gauging the demand for vaccinations for kids ages 5 to 11.

Of those who responded, nearly 54 percent said they planned to have their child vaccinated as soon as possible. About 82 percent said they would prefer to speak to their pediatrician to get information about the vaccine.

As for where they’d like to get their children vaccinated (respondents considered a first and second choice), 73 percent said a pediatrician’s office; 50.5 percent preferred school-based clinics; 38.6 percent said pharmacies; and about 15 percent chose community clinics.

“The survey also showed the preferred time for clinics is on a weekday evening or Saturdays,” McMahon said. “As a reminder, any parent and/or guardian must be present when children in this age group are vaccinated.”

Moderna booster clinic

McMahon also announced that those seeking a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster shot will soon be able to get one. Onondaga County in partnership with Kinney Drugs will host a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine booster clinic for those ages 14 and older on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oncenter. Those interested can register for a booster shot at ongov.net, McMahon said.