Pediatric vaccines available in Dartmouth

Nov 5, 2021

Now approved by the state and Centers for Disease Control, Dartmouth parents can have their children aged 5-11 get their Covid-19 vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of doses for kids aged 5 to 11 on Oct. 29 with the CDC endorsing use on Nov. 2. Those 12-and-up have been eligible for the Covid-19 shot since the spring.

Children are only eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Clinics in Dartmouth offering vaccines for kids include the North Dartmouth Walmart located at 506 State Road and the Stop & Stop at 25 Faunce Corner Road. To book an appointment or to check availability, visit vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Southcoast health will also provide Pfizer doses for kids aged 5-11, along with booster shots and third dose clinics, at the former VF Outlet located at 375 Faunce Corner Road.

Patients can book their shots by signing up through their MyChart account or by visiting www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling. Walk-ins are also welcome.

The Covid-19 vaccine is free, and individuals do not need insurance or an ID to get the vaccine.

As of Nov. 4, the state reports that 60% of Dartmouth residents have received at least a first vaccination dose. That amounts to 22,290 people. More than half of all residents — 54% — are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Data does not include ages 5-11.

The approval of pediatric vaccines comes as new cases of Covid-19 continue to decline in Dartmouth.

The state’s Department of Public Health confirmed 105 new cases in town over the past two weeks — down from the 116 in the state’s previous weekly report.

According to state data, Dartmouth had a 14-day average daily incidence rate of 20.2 per 100,000 people and a 3.69% positivity rate.

The state also reported 13 cases across all six of Dartmouth’s public schools between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3 — nine students and four staff members.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 4,777 coronavirus cases in Dartmouth and 55 virus-related deaths.