Here’s where to get vaccine for your child before school starts — it’s free
School is just around the corner and the clock is ticking to get children ages 12-17 fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the start of classes.
The two-dose Pfizer vaccine is the only FDA-approved shot for children ages 12-17, meaning it would take a minimum of five weeks (two shots three weeks apart, plus two more weeks for full effect) for a child to become considered fully vaccinated under CDC guidelines. Vaccines are not yet available for children younger than 12.
Milwaukee Public Schools have an early start date of Aug. 16 for its yearround schools and a traditional start date of Sept. 2.
Milwaukee Public Schools parents at a traditional start school need to vaccinate their child with a first dose no later than July 29 if they want their child to be fully vaccinated by the time school starts. MPS parents would then need their child to get the second dose on Aug. 19, exactly 21 days after the first dose.
Even if parents at an early start calendar school get their child vaccinated today, they would not be considered fully vaccinated when school starts.
MPS does not require its students to be vaccinated against COVID. MPS will require all students to wear facial coverings in school buildings and on buses, regardless of vaccination status.
Gov. Tony Evers and the state Department of Health Services encourage eligible children to get a jab before the school year starts.
“The COVID-19 vaccines are the best protection we have against the virus and make it possible for our kids to get back to learning safely and without disruption,” Evers said in a press release.
Current CDC guidelines stipulate that adults and adolescents who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, meaning vaccinated children won’t miss out on inperson learning and extracurriculars.
All vaccines are free of charge and do not require proof of health insurance.
Where you can get a child vaccinated
Here’s where you can get your child vaccinated:
MPS has hosted numerous vaccination clinics and has some scheduled for the near future.
On July 29, the district is hosting a popup clinic at Washington High School of IT 10 a.m. to noon at 2525 N. Sherman Blvd. The City of Milwaukee has a mobile vaccination site from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the same day at St. Anthony High School, 4807 S. 2nd Street.
A complete list of Milwaukee mobile vaccination clinics can be found at city.milwaukee.gov/CovidVax or by calling 414-286-6800.
MPS is hosting its 20th annual Backto-School Health Fairs: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 30 at Barack Obama School of Career and Technical Education, 5075 N. Sherman Blvd., and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6 at Southside Health Center, 1639 S. 23rd St. Both events will offer COVID vaccines, in addition to other schoolrequired vaccines.
Parents vaccinating their child at one of the school-based clinics need to fill out a consent form. Other goods and services will also be available such as health care enrollment information, water filters, backpacks and free zoo passes.
The City of Milwaukee also operates walk-in vaccination clinics at Northwest Health Center and Southside Health Center, Monday through Friday.
“It’s really imperative that parents and siblings, neighbors and friends, anyone who is eligible for the free COVID vaccine gets it before school starts,” City Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said at a Wednesday news conference about the health fairs. “We know our (case) numbers are continuing to rise and it is a concern of mine that as we send our kids back to school, they are as protected as can be.”
Local Walgreens and CVS locations have Pfizer vaccine appointments readily available, in addition to walkins.