Campbell County Medical Group’s (CCMG) Kid Clinic is starting a free COVID-19 vaccination day beginning this week for pediatric patients ages 5 – 21.
The Kid Clinic, located at 702 S. Kendrick next door to Twice Spruce Junior High School, will host its first vaccination clinic for youth on Friday, Jan. 21 from 1-5 p.m. Parents are asked to call (307) 688-8700 to schedule appointments. Non-Wyoming residents should bring their child’s vaccination records. All patients should bring their vaccine card for a second or booster dose.
Kid Clinic will offer vaccinations again on Friday, Jan. 28 from 1-5 pm. After that, the vaccination clinic will indefinitely every other Friday until further notice. The vaccination day will not be available in Wright but children are welcome to schedule a time at the Gillette location.
Karen Clarke, community relations director for Campbell County Health (CCH), said the clinic is another example of the CCMG being proactive against the spread of the virus and giving families more options and access to COVID-19 vaccines if they choose.
She said that the vaccines need to be given on scheduled days because each dose has to be used within a certain time frame, meaning someone couldn’t simply walk into the clinic whenever they want and receive a vaccine.
The vaccines must be kept cold to prevent them from breaking down. If they do, they become spoiled and useless, Clarke said. Designating a day for vaccines will allow staff time to thaw and prepare a designated about amount of doses.
According to the Department of Health, only 2.51 percent of children ages 5-11 have received a COVID-19 vaccination, which is the second-lowest in Wyoming next to Crook County at 2.38 percent. In addition, the vaccination rate for adolescents ages 12-17 in Campbell County is 13.67 percent.
“I encourage parents to talk to their healthcare provider about vaccination for COVID-19,” said Holly Hink, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with the Kid Clinic. “Your provider will be able to address specific questions about vaccinations and talk to you and your children if they have questions.”
The Kid Clinic is the first of its kind to be offered in Wyoming where no child is denied a vaccine based on their parents’ ability to pay, the organization says.
The Wyoming Department of Health provides COVID-19 case, variant, death, testing, hospital and vaccine data online. The department also shares information about how the data can be interpreted. COVID-19 safety recommendations are available from the CDC.
