Akron Children’s will offer COVID-19 vaccinations in school to teens 16+

AKRON, Ohio (April 13, 2021) - Akron Children’s Hospital will begin vaccinating area high school students age 16 and older for COVID-19 in their schools beginning April 14 at Woodridge High School.

The students, who must have parental consent through the schools, will be given the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, which the FDA has approved for emergency use in individuals as young as 16.

The vaccinations will be administered by Akron Children’s nurses at no cost to students or families.

“With Pfizer being a twodose vaccine with the doses spaced three weeks apart, the goal is to get all of these eligible and interested students fully vaccinated by the end of their school year,” said Dr. Michael Bigham, chief quality officer for Akron Children’s Hospital.

Akron Children’s vaccinated nearly 14,000 teachers and school employees earlier this year and has provided ongoing COVID-19 education and safety guidance to the 38 districts affiliated with the hospital’s School Health Services.

“We recognize teens 16 and older now have the opportunity to get their vaccines in numerous places now and that’s wonderful. This is just one more convenient option, and especially great for those families with access and transportation issues,” said Michele Wilmoth, director of School Health Services for Akron Children’s Hospital.

Administering the vaccines should take no more than 30 minutes out of the student’s school day.

For those 16 and older, Akron Children’s also offers community vaccination clinics on its Akron and Boardman campuses. To make an appointment, visit www.akronchildrens. org and follow prompts for “Coronavirus” and “Public Vaccination Program.”