'It doesn’t really hurt, it was quick and easy': Kids roll up their sleeves across Alberta to get COVID-19 vaccine
It was mostly all smiles at Exhibition Park in Lethbridge and maybe even a few tears as kids rolled up their sleeves across Alberta Friday to receive their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It’s been a long time coming, I’m probably going to go home and cry,” said Tabatha Beggs, whose two daughters were receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine.
Kids aged five to 11 in Alberta are now able to get their first COVID-19 shot. For Beggs, the vaccine is just another step forward.
“We’re looking to get back to normal life, you know, we want to send the kids back to gymnastics, we want to be able to travel, we want to do things again,” said Beggs.
Seven-year-old Savi and her 11-year-old sister Isabella Beggs say the process wasn’t nearly as scary as it was thought to be.
Kids aged five to 11 in Alberta are now able to get their first COVID-19 shot.
“It was okay – it was fine. It doesn’t hurt, it was very quick and easy. – it was just like a little pinch and then it’s done,” said both Savi and Isabella.
Families that spoke to CTV News say they were pretty eager about being offered the shot.
“She was pretty excited, she was listening to the news and I heard squealing – running up stairs, I thought something was wrong and she said she finally gets to have her shot so we got up first thing in the morning and we went and signed up for it – she was pretty excited,” said Amy Adelman whose 11-year-old daughter received her first shot.
“Once [the needle] goes in, it’s just one shot and really quick, so everyone should get it so you can you’re keeping others safe and not putting them in danger,” said 11-year-old Zosia Adelman.
NO WAIT
Those at Exhibition Park on Friday say there was no wait to get in and the process ran smoothly.
“It’s a good opportunity so we took it right away, first thing we could and here we are,” said Patrick Knox, whose nine-year-old daughter received her first shot. “Not overly busy either, so not too much of a lineup.”
The vaccine is only being offered at AHS clinics and select pharmacies in Alberta. Exhibition Park is the only clinic in Lethbridge to offer the jab to kids between five and 11.
For parents who may still be a bit hesitant, Amber Mueller, a pharmacist at Stafford Pharmacy in Lethbridge, said the pediatric Pfizer vaccine is a lower dosage and has gone through clinical trials throughout the past year on people over the age of 12.
“It is a great time for kids to get the vaccine as we do see it’s a safe option and it is very effective,” said Mueller.
Parents say they had no issues when trying to book an appointment online. To book an appointment, visit here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.