Mobile Pediatric Vaccination Clinic Open to All Ages
From Nichole Shimko, Supervisor for the Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team at Golisano Children’s Hospital and Leader of the Mobile Pediatric Vaccination Clinic.
Since first launching the Golisano Children’s Hospital Mobile Pediatric Vaccination Clinic in late May, we’ve vaccinated close to 1,000 children in Southwest Florida for COVID-19.
We’ve also vaccinated more than 400 of their adult family members who came with them.
From Port Charlotte to Marco Island to Lehigh Acres to Immokalee, our mobile vaccination clinic has traveled throughout the region to vaccinate kids and families who may not otherwise have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
It’s brought tears to my eyes to pull up to some of our locations and see a line already waiting for us.
While our mobile vaccination clinic is tailored toward children, we will vaccinate anyone who is eligible, including adults. The unit is staffed with a pediatric registered nurse to administer the vaccine. A special Pain Ease spray is on-hand to put on the injection site to alleviate any discomfort or fear of needles that kids sometimes have. Also, the mobile vaccination clinic has a pharmacist, EMT or paramedic, and customer service team to assist in the process.
COVID-19 is surging in our community. We are seeing all-time high numbers inside our hospitals of COVID-19 patients and vaccination is our best defense.
Anyone is welcome and there is no cost for the vaccine. The Mobile Pediatric Vaccination Clinic is walk-up only. This week’s stops include:
- Tuesday, August 31, noon-4 p.m., Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, 1159 Causeway Blvd, Sanibel
- Friday, Sept. 3, 3-7 p.m., Goodwill Resource Center, 4126 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers
A parent or authorized guardian must accompany a minor for vaccination. The second dose will be set for the same location or one nearby.
If you or your child age 12 or older haven’t yet been vaccinated for COVID-19, our mobile clinic is a great opportunity to do so. You can also receive a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost at Lee Health’s Community Vaccination Clinic, located at Gulf Coast Medical Center. The clinic is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and there is no cost for the vaccine. For more information, visit www.leehealth.org.