Children Aged 5 to 11 Can Now Receive COVID Vaccinations — Parents Rejoice

For parents of children between 5 and 11, the announcement that the COVID vaccine is finally available has brought an immense sense of relief. After a long wait filled with anxiety, many have been eagerly anticipating this moment. The past 20 months have presented numerous challenges, forcing parents to make tough decisions about their children’s safety, especially those who are already vaccinated or have older vaccinated kids.

As a mother of an eight-year-old with asthma, my worries about the potential impact of COVID on him have been significant. The fear of him contracting the virus has been a constant weight on my mind. When my partner and I were vaccinated back in April, my son expressed sadness at not being able to receive his shot too, despite his aversion to needles.

Living in California, particularly in Los Angeles, I felt relatively safe sending him back to school in person. However, a COVID scare just three weeks into the school year, when a classmate tested positive and the entire class had to quarantine for ten days, was incredibly stressful. Fortunately, Governor Newsom has implemented strong safety measures in schools, including a mask mandate and mandatory weekly testing, which has provided some reassurance. My son has become quite adept at conducting his own tests, using the materials provided by the school.

The anticipation for elementary-aged children to become eligible for the COVID vaccine has been intense. The last couple of weeks felt agonizing as I waited for the official announcement. I was moved to tears when I saw a friend’s post about the CDC approving the vaccine and immediately checked our public health website, only to find no information available yet.

Later, after seeing a friend’s post about COVID vaccines being available at Walgreens, I decided to give it a try. Within 10 minutes, I had secured an appointment for my son on Monday, November 8th. Tears of joy filled my eyes; after more than a year and a half, there was finally a way out of the woods. As the news spread, my social media feeds were flooded with friends sharing their excitement and relief at being able to vaccinate their children aged 5 to 11. Here are a few sentiments they shared.

An Early Start to Vaccination

“My sons (9, 5) have appointments scheduled for Saturday, November 6th. I was so excited I woke up in the middle of the night,” shared Laura T.

“My kids (11, 10) are set for their first doses tomorrow (November 4th),” said Mark S.

“I got up early to secure appointments and honestly started crying when I received the confirmation emails,” echoed Julia B., a mom to two girls, 9 and 5.

A Sigh of Relief

“I’m thrilled! My youngest has been waiting for playdates, and I believe kids, while often asymptomatic, contribute to transmission more than we realize. I was hoping to use Kaiser, but I might switch to Rite Aid,” expressed Samantha P.

“After what feels like forever, I’m overwhelmed with relief and a bit anxious about the side effects. As someone who got vaccinated early and has since received my booster, I felt guilty for not being able to protect my kids (9.5 and 6) the same way. Now, I feel equipped to use our best science to help ease their fears,” shared Beth G., whose newly 12-year-old son just received his first shot.

“Our family has been incredibly cautious since the pandemic began. My son (7) didn’t interact with any kids for nearly a year. It feels surreal now. I’m excited to explore the world with him more and travel a bit. We’ll continue wearing masks in crowded places because we know it’s not foolproof, but the weight on our shoulders feels lighter now,” said Tara H.

Uncontainable Joy

“I scheduled appointments for my 7 and 10-year-old first thing this morning. I’m so relieved to have this additional protection after nearly two years of trying to keep my kids safe. My 10-year-old even cried tears of joy when I told her it was time,” said Carla F.

“Nothing but excitement here! I could seriously cry. This is a much-needed step forward after living in a state of anxiety for 20 months,” stated Michelle K., mom to a 6-year-old.

Anxiously Awaiting Their Turn

“I’m excited to sign up my son. His pediatrician won’t have the vaccine for another two weeks, but I’m checking the Facebook page daily for updates,” said Lisa D.. “He has type one diabetes, so we’ve been eagerly waiting for this day.”

“I’m excited but stressed. Our pediatrician is organizing drive-thru clinics and believes they have enough doses. However, I was #6800 in line when they released the registration link, and I’ve been waiting for 24 hours for my turn,” shared Anna M., mom to a 9-year-old.

At present, while we recognize that the pandemic isn’t over, the availability of the COVID vaccine for our children feels like a glimmer of hope after an extended period of uncertainty. We are now ready to breathe a little easier.

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Summary:

Parents of children aged 5 to 11 are celebrating the recent approval of the COVID vaccine for their kids, expressing relief and joy after a long wait filled with anxiety. Many have shared their excitement over securing vaccination appointments and the newfound sense of safety they feel. Although the pandemic isn’t over, this development marks a hopeful step forward for families.

Keyphrase: COVID vaccine for kids 5 to 11

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