At Silverwood School, a cheering section, a dog, relief as kids line up for COVID-19 shots

CENTRAL KITSAP – The hard part of the afternoon over with, 5-year-old Vivian Gray came into the room to a cheering section. Pompoms. Balloons. A lollipop. She jumped with joy.

Gray was among Kitsap’s first children in the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccine age group to receive a shot this week. Silverwood School, where Vivian attends, jumped to organize a clinic, parents rushed to sign up and doses went into arms on Thursday.

“Ever since the vaccine came out, we were just like, ‘When are they going to get it for the kids?’” Vivian’s mother, Jennifer, said. “I feel like we can exhale a little bit now.”

A trip to Dairy Queen for a treat was scheduled next.

The Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccine gained approvals for use in children ages 5-11 from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee and CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky this week, and those eager to get their children vaccinated began readying for shots. The CDC said that 28 million children in the United States would now be eligible for a vaccine.

More: COVID-19 vaccinations roll out for kids across the nation and in Kitsap

At Silverwood, parents of students and other youth in the community quickly signed up when the school offered shots.

“As soon as we got the approval on Tuesday, we all called each other and basically put the plans into action,” Silverwood School board president Ryan Marriott said. “We notified our parent community Tuesday night and by the end of the first night we had 30-something signups and before 24 hours was up all 100 shots were taken.”

Marriott’s own daughter was thrilled at the idea of getting a shot: “She’s been dancing around the house for the last three days, ‘It’s here! It’s here!’”

At the school, teachers dressed up in costumes, students cheered on their peers, and Peaches the golden retriever helped to provide a bit of comfort. For some, a bit of hesitation, some tears. Others breezed through the process. After their shot, kids could head out to an inviting playground.

“This,” said Lisa Heaman, head of school at Silverwood, “is the best day ever.”

Nathan Mayhook watched his 9-year-old son John after his shot: “It was the first day offered for him and so we got it first chance we could. We’re excited. We’re looking forward to traveling again and getting back to normal. Him being vaccinated is important for us for that.”

Said 10-year-old Stella Brown, a Silverwood student: “I’ve been feeling really nervous, but now I’m really happy that I got it.”

Stella’s mother, Katie, said she recommends that her daughter gets all her vaccinations but left the choice up to her. “She chose to do this one on her own, and she was excited to be a part of this,” Katie said.

“She just made the decision that she wanted to protect not only her friends that can’t get it or don’t want to get it, but her little (17-month-old) brother, which is really important.”

Marc and Meredith Sobolesky brought their children, Thaddeus, 8, and Elise, 5, to get their shots. Their family, Meredith said, has been “beyond cautious” during the pandemic. The shots will provide a bit of comfort.

“I don’t know that it will change a lot of our practices, but at least it’s a relief to know that hey, we’ve got another level of mitigation, protection to help,” Marc said. “Since they’re school-aged kids, yeah, we were waiting.”

Nathan Pilling is a reporter covering Bainbridge Island, North Kitsap and Washington State Ferries for the Kitsap Sun. He can be reached at 360-792-5242, nathan.pilling@kitsapsun.com or on Twitter at @KSNatePilling.

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This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Some of Kitsap's first kids line up for COVID-19 shots