As children continue mingling in school settings and families look ahead to holiday travel, trying not to get sick is top of mind for many with little ones.
If you have tried to get your small children vaccinated for COVID-19 with no luck, or need help finding vaccination locations near you, we're here to help.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine was approved on August 22 by the FDA and is now available. While it might be easy to schedule vaccination appointments for older children and adults, it might be more difficult to find appointments for small children.
The Delaware Division of Public Health shared that parents and caregivers under the age of 3 should contact the child's primary care provider to learn more about getting the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination.
If the child's provider does not have the vaccine in stock or does not administer the vaccine, the Division of Public Health recommends reaching out to local pharmacies. You can also search for vaccination locations according to the child's age on Vaccines.gov.
Before visiting any location to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, be sure to call first to check availability and schedule an appointment if needed.
CVS pharmacy representatives have promoted MinuteClinics for kids aged 5 and under, which can be found in Bear, Middletown and Dover, according to Laura Matusheski, a spokesperson for the Delaware Division of Public Health.
An online locator tool can help determine which CVS stores offer pediatric shots and have appointment availability.
Matusheski cites Walgreens No. 11080 at 6317 Limestone Road in Hockessin as another pharmacy location offering vaccinations for children aged 3 and below.
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At its child health clinics, the Division of Public Health provides limited health services, such as immunizations or physicals, to children under age 19 "who are well" and do not have insurance or a doctor. No sport physicals are provided. Services are free or low-cost based on household income.
Appointments can be booked at the following locations:
For underinsured or uninsured families, there are community health centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers around the state that offer vaccinations for infants and young children.
Delaware's community health centers, which also provide care to the insured, are in the following locations:
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.