Kansas City Health Department giving COVID vaccines for ages 5 to 11. Spots to get kids shots
Kids ages 5 to 11 can now get COVID-19 vaccines around Kansas City from local health departments, clinics, pharmacies and their pediatricians.
The Kansas City Health Department started offering shots for young kids on Tuesday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended a special lower dose of the COVID-19 vaccine made for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday Nov. 2. The CDC guidance followed approval of the same special Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for younger kids from the US Food and Drug Administration last Friday.
Both Kansas and Missouri updated their state guidance to include vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds on Wednesday, which authorizes local health departments and providers to start administering the vaccines.
You can talk to your child’s pediatrician about setting up an appointment, search for a site near you using vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233. Or there are local clinics and pharmacies where your kid can get their shot listed below.
If you have questions about the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine for kids, let us know using the form at the bottom of this story.
Here’s where we know you can get a vaccine dose for your 5 to 11 year old in the Kansas City area so far. We’ll be adding to and updating this list as we learn more.
Local governments
Here is a full list of Missouri clinics that pre-ordered vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 and will begin administering doses.
Kansas City Health Department
Vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds are now available at some of the city’s vaccine clinics, and will be available at more sites soon. An appointment is highly recommended.
Here’s how to get one:
Call the city’s hotline at 311 or 816-513-1313
Call the Childhood Immunization Clinic at 816-513-6108
Book the appointment yourself at kcmo.gov/covid
“Because demand is high, an appointment is strongly recommended. There may be some appointment slots available for walk-ins, but it’s best to secure your spot so you and your child don’t end up frustrated because of a long wait,” Frank Thompson, Kansas City’s interim director of health, said in a statement.
These city clinics are offering child vaccines:
Kansas City Health Department, 2400 Troost Ave., Monday to Friday
Northland Neighborhoods Inc., 5340 NE Chouteau Trafficway, Wednesdays and Thursdays in November
Knights of Columbus-Blue Ridge, 5101 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Mondays and Tuesdays in November
Kansas City’s health department will be adding more locations and pop up clinics in the coming weeks. More information from the KCMO Health Department on the availability of vaccines for children will be added here.
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment
Johnson County will begin administering vaccines for young children by appointment on Monday Nov. 8 at its Mission clinic, located at 6000 Lamar Ave.
The clinic’s hours will be from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays, and from 1-7 p.m. on Tuesdays. You can schedule an appointment on Johnson County’s coronavirus site here. Children 15 and under will need a parent, guardian or other adult with them.
If you have questions or need help scheduling an appointment, you can call 913-715-2819.
Wyandotte County
Vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 are available at the Unified Government Public Health Department’s vaccination location at the former Kmart building in KCK, 7836 State Ave. Available while supplies last.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. No appointment needed.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and will need to wait for 15 minutes for observation after getting the shot.
Vaccines for this age group are not yet available at the health department’s downtown KCK location. But people 12 and older can get the vaccine by appointment only. Call 913-573-8855.
The health department will work with schools in November and December to get the vaccine to students in this age group.
Platte County
The Platte County Health Department will host two clinics in December for young children to be vaccinated.
The clinics will be at the Platte City office from 1-5 p.m. on December 8 and 15. You need an appointment and can make one at plattecountyhealthdept.com.
Local clinics
Children’s Mercy Kansas City
The hospital is holding its first vaccine clinic for kids ages 5 to 11 on Saturday Nov. 6 at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
You need an appointment to book a vaccine for any Children’s Mercy clinic. You can make one through the Children’s Mercy online portal or by calling their COVID scheduling hotline at 816-302-6300.
Starting on Monday, Nov. 8, vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds will be available at all the regular Children’s Mercy vaccine clinics with an appointment.
The weekday clinics are open at the Children’s Mercy Adele Hall Campus and Children’s Mercy Broadway locations from 9 a.m. - 4p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. - 1p.m. on Friday.
KC CARE Health Center and the Kansas City Public Library
Children ages 5 to 11 can get vaccines at three Kansas City Public Library branches through the end of the year. KC CARE Health Center is providing free shots at the following branches:
- Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Plaza branch (4801 Main St.)
- Wednesdays: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Waldo Branch (201 E. 75th St.)
- Thursdays: Noon to 6 p.m., North-East Branch (6000 Wilson Ave.)
Swope Health
Swope clinics are still waiting on the special vaccine doses for 5 to 11 year olds. Once they get them, COVID vaccines will be offered at all of the clinic locations in both Missouri and Kansas. You can call the Swope Health clinic nearest you to set up an appointment.
Swope Health will work with its community partners to make the vaccine more widely available for children through walk-up events and with its mobile outreach program too.
University Health
Vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds will be available at both University Health clinics, the Truman Medical Center at 2211 Charlotte St., and the Lakewood Medical Center at 7900 Lee’s Summit Rd. starting on Monday, Nov. 8. The clinics are open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Appointments are preferred, and you can make one for your child by calling 816-404-2273.
Pharmacies
CVS
Certain CVS pharmacy locations will be offering vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11 starting on Sunday, Nov. 7. You book an appointment at CVS online now, for slots starting Sunday.
Anyone 16 and under needs a parent, guardian or authorized adult with them to be vaccinated at CVS.
Walgreens
COVID vaccine appointments for 5 to 11 year olds are available starting on Saturday Nov. 6. You can make an appointment for your child at Walgreens online, or by calling your local Walgreens.
Walmart
You can book a vaccine appointment for your 5 to 11 year old at local Walmart pharmacies using this online scheduler.
Kansas City Library
KC Care Health Center will vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 at three Kansas City Library locations beginning Nov. 8. No appointments needed.
Anyone who needs the vaccine, including the Moderna booster, can get it during the clinics. Spanish translators will be on hand.
Schedule updates and additional clinics are on the library’s website.
Through the end of the year, vaccinations will be offered:
Tuesdays: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Plaza branch, 4801 Main St.
Wednesdays: 2 to 6 p.m., Waldo branch, 201 E. 75th St. (No clinic Nov. 10.)
Thursdays: Noon to 6 p.m., North-East branch, 6000 Wilson Ave.
Want more information?
Johnson County is hosting a Facebook live event to discuss children’s vaccines on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 12:30 p.m. The conversation will include the health department director and a local pediatrician.
Did we miss somewhere? Let us know at kcq@kcstar.com, and we’ll continue to update this piece as we get more information.
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 9:36 AM.