MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Parents looking to schedule their child's COVID-19 vaccination will have plenty of opportunities in Mecklenburg County this weekend.
StarMed Healthcare, Mecklenburg County Public Health and Atrium Health are among the health care providers hosting clinics where parents can get the COVID-19 vaccine for their kids on Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7.
Pfizer's pediatric vaccine was approved by U.S. health officials this week, with clinics opening appointments for kids ages 5 to 11 this week. Click here for more information on scheduling an appointment through CVS, Walgreens and Walmart.
StarMed Healthcare vaccinated 600 kids on Thursday and hundreds more on Saturday. Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said she is hopeful more families will go out this weekend, stressing the importance of getting kids vaccinated.
”We still have a lot of children who are being infected by this virus. And with children, you can’t pinpoint that this child who is healthy is not going to have problems with this virus they’re going to be able to kick it without too much trouble, and this child and is going to have significant issues," she said. "You’re taking chances with your children and most folks don’t like to do that.”
The parents bringing their kids out early generally trust the science and are eager to get them protected.
“I want to make the world a safe place for the kids, so I think its important to get them vaccinated," Amy Russell said. "We can start to travel again, we can live life the way we used to and that’s kind of exciting."
But not all kids love getting shots. When Sara Cress' 5-year-old understandably got nervous, she said the nurses on hand were ready to help and make the experience a success.
“The nurse was really calm she didn’t demand anything of her she kind of followed her leave and moved up, kind of let her bury her head and took it really slowly and still made sure she was telling her what was happening. It was really helpful," Cress said.
Mecklenburg County COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Saturday, Nov. 6
VaxClinic -- Sealed Air Corporation
- 2415 Cascade Pointe Boulevard, Charlotte
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, flu vaccines available
Atrium Health -- El Rey Supermarket
- 6300 South Boulevard, Charlotte
- 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Pfizer vaccine available (not pediatric)
Atrium Health -- East Town Market
- 5800 North Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Moderna vaccine available
Atrium Health -- Cokesbury United Methodist Church
- 6701 Idlewild Road, Charlotte
- 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Moderna vaccine available
Mecklenburg County Public Health -- The Apartments at Sailboat Bay
- 5417 Albemarle Road, Charlotte
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Pfizer (including pediatric), Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and flu vaccines available
Mecklenburg County Public Health -- Health Department
- 2845 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte
- 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Pfizer (including pediatric), Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and flu vaccines available
StarMed Healthcare
- Multiple locations -- Click here for details
- Clinic hours may vary by location
- Pfizer (including pediatric), Moderna vaccines available at StarMed locations
Novant Health -- McClintock Middle School
- 1925 Rama Road, Charlotte
- Appointments required -- Click here to schedule
- Pfizer (including pediatric), flu vaccines and other school-required immunizations available
Charlotte Community Health Clinic
- 8401 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 300, Charlotte
- Clinic times may vary
- Pfizer pediatric vaccine available
C.W. Williams Community Health Center
- 3333 Wilkinson Boulevard, Charlotte
- Clinic times may vary
- Pfizer (including pediatric), flu vaccines and other school-required immunizations available
Sunday, Nov. 7
StarMed Healthcare
- Multiple locations (click here for information)
- Hours may vary by location
- Pfizer (including pediatric) and Moderna vaccine available
StarMed will have free Golden Cow ice cream from 10-4 on Sunday at the Tuckaseegee Road location.