Avera now scheduling COVID-19 vaccinations for kids 12-15

Nick Sabato, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·2 min read

May 14—SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Avera Health is now scheduling appointments for kids ages 12-15 to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Pfizer received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for those in the 12-15 age range and was previously approved for those 16 years and older. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for those 18 years and older.

People under the age of 29 are currently responsible for 402 of South Dakota's 890 active cases, while accounting for 16% of the 337,559 people to have been administered at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

"There's no doubt that higher rates of COVID infections are happening in the 15 to 25 age range. That's where the virus is circulating right now. Until we can get teens and young adults vaccinated and get the virus out of circulation, we'll never reach herd immunity where we can go back to a semblance of normalcy," Basel said.

The vaccine is two doses and recipients can expect soreness at the injection site, aches and a slight headache, which Basel says are, "signs that your immune system has been activated."

For people of all ages, there is no longer a 14-day waiting period between receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and another immunization. They can be conducted on the same day.

Following are the South Dakota Department of Health COVID-19 case rates, deaths, hospitalizations and vaccinations as of Friday, May 14. Because all data is preliminary, some numbers and totals may change from one day to the next.

Statewide case rates

* NEW CASES: 45 (seven-day daily average: 82)

* TOTAL ACTIVE CASES: 890

* TOTAL CASES: 123,644

* TOTAL RECOVERED: 120,763

* DAILY TEST POSITIVITY RATE: 9.6%

Hospitalizations, deaths

*

NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS: 7

*

ACTIVE HOSPITALIZATIONS: 67

*

TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS: 7,492

*

DEATHS, NEWLY REPORTED: 2

*

TOTAL DEATHS: 1,991

Vaccinations

*

INITIAL DOSE ADMINISTERED (IF 2-DOSE VACCINE): 337,559, total: 56.1% of population*

*

FULLY VACCINATED: 308,419, total: 50.7% of population

*Vaccine total based on state distribution. Percentage includes vaccines given to South Dakota residents through federal programs, including IHS and VA.

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