Vaccines available in the Jacksonville area for kids 6 months and older

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Children 6 months and older now have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Sulzbacher Village Pediatric Health Center is offering vaccines for children 6 months and older on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Registration is not required.

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Jacksonville Pediatrics is also offering doses for kids 6 months and older.

Currently, CVS offers vaccines for kids 18 months and older.

Walgreens offers vaccines for kids 3 years and older.

Read: CDC investigating ‘very serious’ outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida

Meanwhile, Publix says it will not offer vaccines to kids younger than 5 years old.

“I have a daughter so I’m gonna get her a shot probably Saturday, now that I know it is available in our [Brentwood] community,” said Stephanie Andino Bennett, who is also a health care worker.

“If it helps the COVID situation going on, then that’d be good,” Sylvester White said.

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Right now, COVID-19 cases in Florida are the highest they’ve been in the past 10 weeks.

In the past two weeks, they’ve hit more than 74,000.

Bennett and White are both parents who spoke with Action News Jax and agreed kids would be better protected if they’re vaccinated.

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“I think it’s a good thing,” Bennett said. “It’s a good cause for the kids right now, because you know, what’s going on with them going back to school, having them fully vaccinated.”

“It’ll protect the kid,” White added. “[and] the other kids [that] go to school.”

A poll taken by market researcher Civic Science shows parents are generally more hesitant to vaccinate their children under 5.

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Twenty percent said they’d do it right away, while more than half say they wouldn’t do it at all.

White and Bennett both have different opinions on how young kids should get their doses.

“I’d say like 10 years old,” White shared, adding, “I don’t think it’d be good to get vaccinated if it’s like, 6 months.”

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“Around 1 or 2,” Bennett weighed in. “If [my daughter] was an infant, I would be a little cautious, because they’re still building their immune system.”

And that’s where a pediatrician could help offer insight.

“Talk to your doctor, let them know your concerns, and see whether or not it works for you,” Bennett said.

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