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Several area locations offering vaccinations for children

POLK COUNTY—Parents of children ages 5 and above can now get their children vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The vaccinations were approved this week for children ages 5-11. The vaccinations have already been available for children aged 12-17. 

The Polk County Division of Public Health announced the availability of the free vaccines for everyone now ages 5 and above. 

To schedule an appointment in the area, people can contact Foothills Pharmacy in Columbus at 828-894-6112; CVS Pharmacy in Columbus at 828-894-8247; Smith’s Drug in Forest City at 828-245-4591; Blue Ridge Community Health in Columbus at 828-894-2222 and most Walgreen’s locations. 

The Centers for Disease Control is now recommending that children ages 5-11 receive a COVID-19 vaccine. 

The CDC says that Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is over 90 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5-11. The CDC also says the COVID-19 vaccines have undergone, and continue to undergo, the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. 

After getting a COVID-19 vaccine, children may have some side effects, such as a headache and fatigue. The CDC says these are normal signs that their body is building protection and the side effects should go away in a few days.