Update, noon: Joey Smith, director of the Montgomery County Health Department, told Clarksville Now that the drive-thru site can now offer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to people age 12 and up, effective immediately.

No appointment is needed Thursday at the Governor’s Square Mall site until 2 p.m., and vaccines will continue to be distributed Friday.

“The 12-15 protocols for our vaccination site at Governors Square Mall were reviewed and have been signed off and we wanted to make this available as soon as possible,” Smith said.

“As I said before, the more vaccinated people we have in our community, we can cause a greater disruption in the transmission of disease.”

Previously:

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Local health officials received word Wednesday afternoon that the Montgomery County Health Department can begin administering the Pfizer vaccine to children 12-15 years old this weekend.

The Tennessee Department of Health announced the decision after the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the Pfizer vaccine be made available to teenagers.

“We have been anticipating this decision for several weeks, and I am thrilled we can begin offering the Pfizer vaccine to children in this age group,” Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said in a news release.

“As a mother and a pediatrician, I believe this vaccine to be safe and effective for children and I hope other parents across the state are relieved to learn this option is available. Our local health departments have been working ahead in preparation for this decision, and vaccine supply is available,” Piercey said.

According to a release from Tennessee Department of Health, local health departments will be able to vaccinate children ages 12-15 beginning Friday, May 14.

“This is fantastic news! Fortunately our county has been using Pfizer for months and have it in stock right now. So as soon as we get the updated EUA and protocols have been signed off on, we could begin offering Pfizer to 12 and up as soon as Friday or early next week,”  said Joey Smith, director of the Montgomery County Health Department.

The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines remain available to people over the age of 18. For more information on how to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Montgomery County, click here.