PHOTO PROVIDED BY LEE HEALTH

Beginning today, anyone over the age of 16 can receive a COVID-19 vaccine at Lee Health. The vaccination clinic is open to the community; you do not need to be a Lee Health patient to get the vaccine.

Lee Health recently received a shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is approved for use in those 16 years-old and above. You can schedule your appointment by visiting www.leehealth.org.

Appointments are available as early as next week. A parent or authorized guardian must accompany a minor for vaccination.

“We are pleased to be able to now vaccinate our 16 and 17 year-olds, and I encourage all teens in this age group to come in with a parent or guardian to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and chief executive officer of Lee Health, in a prepared statement. “It would be wonderful if we could get as many students vaccinated as possible before they begin the next school next year.”

All self-scheduling appointments must be made online, and Lee Health kindly asks that you not to call our hospitals or physician offices to inquire about vaccine appointments as it overwhelms our phone system and keeps others from reaching us for their care.

A mask is required to enter any Lee Health facility.

You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving your final dose of the vaccine. For more information on COVID-19 vaccines please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html.