Rite Aid to offer COVID-19 shots for kids ages 3 and over
Following on the heels of the Food and Drug Administration's authorization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendation that everyone ages 6 months old and older get vaccinated against COVID-19, Rite Aid announced that at select Rite Aid locations, including Rite Aid-owned Bartell Drugs, it will be providing Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 3 years old and older once shipments arrive to select pharmacies later this week.
Rite Aid said that its pharmacists are trained to administer vaccines down to the age of 3.
“Approval of the vaccine for this pediatric population is a major milestone in our pandemic journey,” said Rite Aid chief pharmacy officer Karen Staniforth. “Parents have been eagerly awaiting the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine for their little ones, and we look forward to vaccinating our youngest customers to help protect them against COVID-19.”
[Read more: Retailers are expanding COVID-19 vaccines, antiviral and test availability]
Parents and guardians of children under the age of 3 years old should check with their pediatrician or healthcare provider, or at vaccines.gov to find a vaccine provider for this age group.
To date, Rite Aid noted that it has administered over 16 million COVID-19 vaccinations and encourages anyone who hasn’t received their primary vaccination series to do so, and to get their booster shot when eligible.
[Read more: Retailers begin offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots]
“As new COVID and its variants continue to spread, vaccination including boosters are critical in helping to prevent serious illness and hospitalization,” Staniforth said.