St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network are providing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to ages 12-15.

The FDA and CDC granted emergency use authorization for this vaccine in this age group, meaning they can potentially become vaccinated against the virus before summer.

Schedule through your primary care provider and/or pediatrician’s office.

Call 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537), option 7.

Text VACCINE to 23762 and following the prompts to select your location and date.

Log into or create a St. Luke’s MyChart account to self-schedule a vaccine appointment. Individuals ages 13+ are able to register for their own St. Luke’s MyChart account and are able to schedule themselves. Individuals who are 12 years old will need a parent to create an account or schedule on their behalf.

Individuals 12-17 will need a parent or guardian to complete the Minor Consent Form. Forms will be available at the vaccine locations.

St. Luke’s offers five Pfizer vaccine locations: Bethlehem Campus, Anderson Campus, Monroe Campus, Upper Bucks Campus and Geisinger St. Luke’s.

The makeup of this two-shot, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the same for these adolescents as for pre-adults and adults, ages 16 and up, which has been given to millions of Americans since December. A recent research study of the vaccine, conducted by Pfizer-BioNTech, concluded it is safe and 100 percent effective in protecting adolescents in the 12-15-year-old group against the virus, says St. Luke’s Chief of Pediatrics Jennifer Janco, MD.

Timing is critical, as children and parents prepare for various social, group activities like athletics, vacations and, in a few months, a return to school, all of which raise risks for virus transmission, adds Dr. Janco. She has been receiving inquiries from parents looking for the vaccine for their children, which is encouraging.

St. Luke’s is closely following the developments by Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech as they test vaccines to protect kids ages six months to 11 years.

Anyone under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to get vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccinations provided by LVHN are free.

LVHN is scheduling appointments, or visit one of these five convenient locations with or without an appointment:

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic–Northampton Crossings

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic–Pocono

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic–Hazleton

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic–Schuylkill

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic–MacArthur Road

Or go to MyLVHN, the health network’s patient portal. Call the COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). We’re open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The pediatricians at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital offer the following guidance for parents:

Common side effects of the vaccine are pain, redness and swelling in the arm where you received the shot, as well as fatigue, tiredness, mild headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea.

These side effects can affect your child’s ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

In children and adolescents, these side effects may be more common with the first dose than typically seen in adults.

You may want to give your child acetaminophen four times a day for the first one to two days at the appropriate dosing after receiving the vaccine.

Please don’t take ibuprofen or acetaminophen before receiving the vaccine.

To reduce pain and discomfort where your child got the shot, apply a cool, wet cloth to the spot on the arm where the shot was given.

Drinking lots of fluids and wearing light clothing can help when there is fever.

After receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, safety precautions should still be followed per the latest CDC guidelines, including when a mask should be worn, washing your hands frequently and staying socially distant until the majority of our community is vaccinated.