U.S. health officials earlier this week cleared the low-dose Pfizer-BioNTech shot for kids as young as 5, expanding the population of vaccine-eligible Americans by millions and providing for many p…
Before 7-year-old Christian Loza rolled up his sleeve at Kaiser Permanente’s Tustin Ranch clinic Thursday morning, he said he was ready to be vaccinated against COVID-19 along with his mom and dad. One reason? So he can finally attend some Lakers games, he said. U.S. health officials earlier this week cleared the low-dose Pfizer-BioNTech shot for kids as young as 5, expanding the population of vaccine-eligible Americans by millions and providing for many parents with young children a sense of relief. While those who have been eligible and vaccinated for months began resuming some pre-pandemic activities, many with elementary-school aged kids have still remained vigilant against the spread of coronavirus. Now, doses sized for little bodies are being doled out to health care facilities around the state, and clinics and pediatricians’ offices across the region have begun administering them. At the Tustin clinic Thursday, where six kids were given their first shots,8-year-old Niko Varner sat with her hand holding up the shirt sleeve on her opposite arm as she waited for the poke. When it was all over, her mom and big sister clapped. Niko reported the jab hurt at first “and then it stopped.” Sister Nyla Varner,9, said she wasn’t nervous at all before her turn. She knows the vaccine “helps people,” she said. And once she’s gotten her shots, Nyla said she’s excited to play with her friends again and go on vacation. For mom Rainese Varner, the feeling Thursday was “joy,” she said, and relief from the concern of thinking every sniffle could be an indication of a more serious sickness. “I have just wanted them to be vaccinated, and not even so much for their own health, but just being around different adults, different family members, even older friends that have immunocompromised systems,” Varner said. “So I’m so excited that the day came that they approved it.” Kaiser began opening up appointments Thursday at all eight of its vaccination centers for members and non-members. In Orange County, the medical center was allocated 9,300 doses for this week and next, said Dr. Amber Burnette, an allergy and immunology specialist with the Kaiser system. Kaiser has 49,000 kids ages 5 to 11 in its system, Burnette said, but doses aren’t likely to run out before the next allotment. For parents Lucio and Cecilia Loza, the ability to get their sons, Christian and 11-year-old Lucio, vaccinated also offers “a sense of relief,” said Dr.
