The Putnam County Department of Health is starting to vaccinate children 12 to 15 years of age, based on expanded authorization of the Pfizer vaccine, approved late Wednesday by the NYS Department of Health.
To best meet the specific needs of parents with children ages 12 and older, the Putnam County Department of Health encourages community members to share their input on the process through the links to a short survey below:
· English: Putnam County COVID-19 Vaccine Survey for Parents
· Español: Encuesta para los padres que viven en el condado de Putnam sobre la vacuna Pfizer
Parents and caregivers should be aware that to receive a vaccination, minors must have proof of age as well as verbal or written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
An upcoming health department COVID-19 vaccination clinic, set for Thursday, May 20 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., will have the Pfizer vaccine available, the only one approved for use in children 12 to 15 years of age. This first-dose Pfizer vaccine clinic will take place at the Philipstown Recreation Center in Garrison. Walk-ins are welcome but making an appointment online will save time. The appointment link will be shared on the county health department website and social media. Future clinics will be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY and at www.putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information.
NYS Department of Health data for overall vaccinations rates in Putnam appears below:
As of May 12, 2021, Putnam County's overall vaccination rate for age 15+ population was 61.5% as compared to state as a whole at 57.6.0%. The range of vaccination rates by zip code is 52.8% (Lake Peekskill) to 78.8% (Cold Spring) on the west side of the County, with less variability in more populous zip codes in central and eastern parts of the county (Carmel 60.7%, Brewster 60.8%).
According to the NYS Department of Health, this data only reflects administrations reported to the State. It does not include Federal Entity administrations (Veterans Health, etc.) which are reported directly to the CDC. Counts are provided for 15+ populations in each zip code due to data availability, although 15-year-olds were not previously eligible for vaccination.
Efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccine across the county, including community surveys, outreach, and communication between providing entities, are ongoing.
The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community, composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit our County website at www.putnamcountyny.com, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.