photo by: Dylan Lysen/Lawrence Journal-World

Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health disease investigator Danielle Krehbiel prepares a child to receive a dose of a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine during a clinic for children between the ages of 5-11 at the East Lawrence Recreation Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

Some shed tears, and others put on a brave face: Hundreds of Douglas County children received their first dose of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.

Young children had to wait much longer than adults and teenagers to get the vaccine, and some parents told the Journal-World they were just happy their kids now have some protection from the global pandemic that has wreaked havoc for more than 18 months.

“It’s a huge sense of relief,” said Margaret Brumberg, whose two children received their first shots in Lawrence on Wednesday.

Almost 270 children received the vaccine through the Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health clinics on Wednesday, which were the first clinics the health department held for children between the ages of 5 and 11 since the vaccine was approved for that age group earlier this month.

The pediatric vaccine, which is offered by Pfizer, requires two doses for a child to be considered fully vaccinated, similar to the company’s vaccine for teens and adults. However, Sonia Jordan, the health department’s director of informatics, said the pediatric vaccine is a different dosage than what adults and teens are given. That meant the health department had to wait for new inventory to be provided before it could begin giving out vaccines after they were approved for younger children.

Getting a shot isn’t exactly fun, but some children were actually excited to get their vaccine. Brumberg said her children — Lucy, 6, and Adam, 5 — were just as excited as she was. But she also said the fact that they were getting dinner at McDonald’s after the shot may have helped.

Brumberg said her kids know the benefits of getting vaccinated.

“They understand what a vaccine does in terms of providing safety so we can do things that are fun for kids,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kari NaPier said her children — Ava, 7, and Sam, 5 — woke up excited on Wednesday because of their vaccine appointments. She said they had been preparing for the shot by listening to a children’s song hyping up vaccination day.

When they arrived to actually get the shot, her children may have been a little less excited than earlier, she said. But they got the shots and were ready to live the vaccinated life.

“I’m excited to have us get back to a little bit of normal (life) and not have to worry about what we’ve worried about for the last year and a half,” NaPier said. “I’m glad to be able to put this all behind us and move forward.”

photo by: Dylan Lysen/Lawrence Journal-World

An entertainer performs for children who had received their first dose of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine at the East Lawrence Recreation Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

To help the children cheer up after their shots, the health department hired a children’s entertainer to perform during their 15-minute wait period. Jordan said entertainers will be at most of the health department’s clinics.

“It’s to make the kids comfortable and kind of excited about something that’s not always seen as a positive when you are a kid,” she said. “We just want to help them pass that time easier.”

The availability of vaccines for the age group will also likely help area schools keep students in class. While teens have been able to get the vaccine for some time, elementary-age students have not, and it has shown in local quarantine orders early in the school year. At one point, about 400 students were ordered to quarantine, the Journal-World previously reported.

Jordan said vaccinations should be another way to keep students in classrooms, since those who are vaccinated do not need to quarantine when they come in close contact with someone with COVID-19 unless they show symptoms.

“Our hope is that the vaccination will make things like in-person school, participation in activities, teams, and extracurriculars that much easier for schools, parents, families and caregivers,” Jordan said.

Dr. Molly Imber, whose youngest daughter, Evie, 7, received the vaccine on Wednesday, said that was something she was excited about. She said her daughter was the last in the family who needed to receive the vaccine for the whole family to all be protected.

“She was the last one we needed to get covered,” Imber said. “It’s nice that once she’s (fully) vaccinated we’ll feel a lot safer about sending her to school.”

The health department is hosting pediatric vaccine clinics at various sites on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. More are scheduled for next week as well. To register for a time slot, visit ldchealth.org/covidvaccine.