Bucks County families get on board with COVID-19 pediatric vaccine
It’s been over two weeks since children under 11 began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine across the country, and while not every family is rushing to get their child vaccinated, many Bucks kids have already gotten their first shot.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 in October.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on Nov. 3 that those vaccines be expanded to the 28 million children eligible in the U.S. as soon as possible.
It was shown in clinical trials to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID infection in kids, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Since its approval, 92,900 total pediatric vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds have been administered across the commonwealth as of Thursday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“When this all first started happening, we vaccinated our at-risk people, health care workers, we kind of made our way along, so as school nurses, we've seen our younger population not truly be protected,” said Karen Pressler, the Centennial School District’s nursing coordinator.
“The feeling I have is that now they will ultimately really be protected because they'll get the vaccine, and as per CDC, the PA Department of Health and the Bucks County Department of Health, that's our number-one line of defense against this pandemic,” Pressler said.
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Some local parents wasted no time in getting their child in line for the shot.
The Bucks County Health Department is hosting Monday-through-Friday vaccine clinics, with limited pediatric availability, in Bensalem and Jamison.
“Our two clinics have given more than 500 pediatric shots so far,” said Jim O’Malley, Bucks County’s deputy communications director.
Jenn, a Bensalem parent who only shared her first name, says she’s “completely relieved” that her 5-year-old son Steven now has extra protection against COVID.
She took him to Margiotti and Kroll Pediatrics’ Newtown office for their drive-up clinic on Nov. 3. Steven was one of over 300 children to receive his first dose at the clinic that day.
The pre-K student has had a myriad of health issues, including RSV and an unidentifiable virus, since he was three months old. He’s been sick with COVID before, his mom says.
“Every fall and winter was super hard for us until he was about two-and-a-half, so I've had 23 PICU or NICU stays, depending on how old he was,” Jenn said.
The child’s pulmonologist and pediatricians told her that her son should be among one of the first children to get the vaccine since he’s among the most vulnerable.
Steven cried a little before the vaccination, Jenn said, but a lollipop helped him feel better after the injection.
“He didn't complain at all, there was no bruise, no redness, nothing,” she said.
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The mom is ecstatic that he’s gotten through the first round, but recognizes he’s not completely in the clear.
“I'm just relieved that he is protected from the worst-case scenario of COVID,” Jenn said. “He still could get it, but it won't be as severe.”
Meanwhile, pediatric vaccines continue to be available at locations across the county through the Bucks County Health Department. Some school districts are hosting clinics in light of younger students now being eligible.
Morrisville, Centennial, Bristol Township and Palisades are among those offering the COVID vaccine to minors accompanied by an adult.
The Pennsbury School District is working with Rite Aid on confirming plans for interested families, while Neshaminy and Central Bucks don’t have upcoming vaccine clinics scheduled.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Hundreds of Bucks County kids get first COVID vaccine shot
