Earlier this year, the Verona school district partnered with Vanguard Medical Group to get teachers vaccinated against COVID-19. On Friday, the district sent an email to parents announcing that Vanguard could make the Pfizer vaccine available to teenagers. Of the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States, the Pfizer shot is the only one that has been approved for people ages 12 to 17.
Vanguard will open vaccine appointments to teenagers beginning next Monday, May 24. Students need not be patients at Vanguard Medical Group. The primary care practice is located at the northern end of Grove Avenue.
If your child is at least 12 years old, you can register for a shot here.
Unlike several area colleges and universities, Verona schools have not mandated COVID-19 vaccination to attend school. Under New Jersey immunization laws, children must be vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, and polio, unless they have a valid medical or religious exemption to vaccines. Depending on age, students must also get shots against tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis and meningitis.
UPDATE: At Monday night’s Town Council meeting, Essex County announced that it will have the Pfizer vaccine available for teens at the former Kmart site in West Orange. You need to register for that here; children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
