This page includes information and resources on COVID-19 vaccines collected by the Health Room. While we will make every effort to keep this page updated and current, AACMS makes no guarantee that the information or resources included below are accurate or updated to their most current version. For the most up-to-date information, you should consult local, state, or federal health agencies and your health care provider.  

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has emergency use authorization for ages 12 and older and has been proven safe and effective. The clinical trial data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration demonstrated 100 percent effectiveness at preventing disease in this age group, which now represents nearly 20 percent of current COVID-19 infections.
 
Both St. Luke’s University Hospital and Lehigh Valley Hospital are offering the vaccine for individuals ages 12 and over. 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 and SLHN are free.
 
 

More convenient locations to receive your vaccination with or without an appointment include:

• 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.