Cape Fear Valley Health’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics began vaccinating individuals ages 12 and older after the US Food and Drug Administration’s May 11 emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine for younger teens and adolescents ages 12 to 15.

Cape Fear Valley is an 930-bed, eight-hospital regional health system, the eighth largest in North Carolina, with more than 1 million inpatient and outpatients annually. 

A private not-for-profit organization with 7,000 employees and 850 physicians, it includes Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Behavioral Health Care, Bladen County Hospital, Hoke Hospital, Health Pavilion North, Health Pavilion Hoke and Harnett Health. For more information, visit www.CapeFearValley.com.

The addition of younger teens and adolescents expanded the population eligible for the vaccine, which previously was available for those ages 16 and older. 

“We anticipated and are prepared for the expansion of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for individuals aged 12 to 15,” said Chris Tart, PharmD, Vice President of Professional Services.  “We are glad to see access increased for the Pfizer vaccine to this age group, which is another step in getting the country to herd immunity and ending the pandemic.”

Cape Fear Valley’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics now accept walk-in patients until clinic capacity is reached. Appointments also are available.

With the exception of the Bladen Express Care clinic in Elizabethtown, appointments can be made online at www.capefearvalley.com/covid19. The Bladen clinic is only accepting appointments by phone, at 910-862-2122. Appointments for the week of May 10 will open after 5 p.m. today.

All the health system’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be offering the Pfizer vaccine, which is now approved for people ages 12 and up. Patients between the ages of 12 and 18 must have a parent or guardian present to receive their vaccinations.

First doses of Moderna will no longer be available, but patients can still receive their second Moderna dose at the same location they received their first dose. Cape Fear Valley is operating four clinics with first-dose shots of the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments are never required for second doses, but patients are asked to return to the same location where they received their first dose in order to receive their second dose.

The specific hours of operation for each clinic are below and the information can also be found on the hospital’s website.