Local health officials preparing to get kids 5 to 11 vaccinated against COVID-19

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Your young kids could soon be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

With authorization on the Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds from the CDC coming through Tuesday, Milwaukee county officials said they're working on preparing to get the vaccine to any kid whose parent wants them to get it.

County health officials said vaccinating kids will be a big step towards being able to roll back various COVID-19 precautions in place, but they said it isn't something that will happen overnight.

Health officials said with that approval, the Wisconsin DHS will now be reviewing the guidelines as well, before conferring with local health departments, so the vaccines won't be able to be given right away.

Health officials said they do expect it to start soon, however.

Across the county, pop-up clinics and even clinics in schools are being planned.

"We are considering doing some school located clinics here in the city of Greenfield, and we're still trying to determine how best to do those. We've deployed a parent survey but certainly we are aware that a lot of parents will want to be present, and if we decide to do something without parents present we'll have to get signatures and approvals beforehand," said Greenfield Health Director Darren Rausch.

They said as more kids are vaccinated, more COVID restrictions could be eventually lifted.

"So I would anticipate we will continue to have mask mandates and continue to follow as many of those layered mitigation approaches and strategies as possible for several months, and that may be spring break, or it could look like the end of the school year for this academic year," said Rausch.

Health officials say now is a good time to start talking to your kids about getting the vaccine.

To stay updated on information about where to get your kids vaccinated, go to Milwaukee Health Information & Education (healthymke.com) for vaccination clinic locations where you can make an appointment.

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