OCPS to offer COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 and older beginning next week

Orange County Public Schools has officially announced its participation in administering COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 and older. 

OCPS sent out an email to parents on Wednesday, Nov. 3, announcing the update. 

The decision comes only a day after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old, which we told you about here. 

Health Hero Florida, a partner of OCPS, will begin offering clinics next week so students can be fully vaccinated and protected against COVID by the Winter Break holidays, according to the OCPS announcement. 

The walk-up events will be open to all OCPS families as well as to anyone who needs a vaccine or booster. 

Parents or guardians must accompany children and sign the Department of Health's consent form.

Children will receive the two-dose Pfizer vaccine, but all other brands and boosters will be available for others.

"We hope our parents and entire community will seriously consider this opportunity to vaccinate their children, and that if they have questions they will consult their child’s medical provider," an OCPS spokesperson said. 

First dose locations will run from Tuesday, Nov. 9, through Saturday, Nov. 13. 

Some West Orange schools included in the first-dose locations are Ocoee High School, Dr. Phillips High School, Windermere High School and Horizon High School. 

The full list of first-dose locations can be found here. 

Second-dose locations are to be announced in the near future.