NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina  –   On November 17, 2021, Naval Medical Center camp Lejeune administered the first doses of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. NMCCL offers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for eligible, pediatric TRICARE beneficiaries ages 5-11 years old.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the vaccine is “administered as a two-dose primary series, 3 weeks apart, but is a lower dose (10 micrograms) than that used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms).”

NMCCL’s Immunizations Clinic staff is taking measures to strictly ensure the safety of vaccine delivery among this specific beneficiary population.

“Vaccines are being maintained completely separate from any other vaccine and are being administered in a separate room from other vaccination locations in pediatrics,” said Ann Bell, Immunizations Clinic manager.

Along with the specific rules for storage of the vaccine, the doses are being administered by pediatric certified corpsmen and nurses. Another safety check- this particular vaccine formulation is denoted with an orange cap; it also has a smaller needle.

U.S. Navy Commander Misty Scheel, director for NMCCL Public Health, explains safety measures extend beyond the pediatric patient.

“We make parents part of the safety process,” Scheel said. “Parents can visibly check the vial and syringe label to verify the vaccine.”

Pediatric COVID-19 vaccines are given at the NMCCL Pediatrics Immunizations Clinic located in Building NH-200 in front of the main medical center. Parents or caregivers can schedule an appointment during available time slots through the Defense Health Agency Appointing Tool: https://informatics-stage.health.mil/covax/.