Martha's Vineyard hospital announced they will begin administering COVID-19 vaccines to children 5 and up beginning next week.
The hospital is expecting 300 pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine soon, and shots will be administered during clinics on Thursday and Saturday next week.
Appointments can be made at the hospital website starting Thursday at 5 PM.
The hospital estimates there are about 12-hundred newly eligible children on the island.
Chief Nurse and Chief Operating Officer at the hospital Claire Seguin encourages parents to vaccinate their children because she says it's safe and effective.
"The evidence of its safety is overwhelming. And it will be the protection your child needs as the pandemic does not let up," Seguin said during a press briefing on Wednesday. "We have seen where the vaccine is administered, that COVID rates are lower."
She says that COVID vaccine rates for older children - over the age of 11 - has been higher on the island compared to the national average. She said the national rate is about 30 to 40 percent.
"We've been happy to see a much higher vaccine rate here, and we really hope that continues for 5 to 11 year-olds," Seguin said.
The hospital is expecting weekly shipments of pediatric vaccine, aside from the initial 300 doses.
Meanwhile, the hospital has started administering Moderna and J&J booster vaccines and appointments can be made at the same website as pediatric appointments.
This week, the hospital surpassed 30,000 total COVID vaccines administered since the initial roll-out.
