About 30% of the children ages 5 to 11 in Routt County have received their first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to data from county public health.

This is outpacing the uptake of shots for this age group across the state, which was at about 20% of Colorado children 5 to 11 Sunday.

Like with adults, the two doses of the vaccine are spaced 21 days apart. As vaccines for these children started to ramp up the second week of November, some of the first to get a shot will start rolling up their sleeves again this week.

“We’re doing a good job in our vaccinations in the 5 to 11-year-olds,” said Eric France, chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “We’re a leader in the country in terms of our (vaccination) rates to date, and I feel confident that is also contributing to controlled (COVID-19 case) rates.”

The rate of COVID-19 among these younger children have been higher than that of adults since shortly after school started but is now almost just below the rate for the rest of the population. On Nov. 24, the rate among children 5 to 11 in Routt County was about 559 cases over two weeks, per 100,000 people, while for adults it was 552.

The CDPHE vaccination bus will be in Routt County next weekend, offering second dose clinics for children vaccinated earlier this month. Walk-ups are allowed, but those with an appointment will be prioritized.

Right now, it is just the Pfizer vaccine approved for those under the age of 18. Moderna’s vaccine is being reviewed further by Food and Drug Administration officials for those under 18 before being considered for emergency use authorization to better understand the risk of a possibly rare side effect. This is expected to be complete in January, according to National Public Radio.