A parent’s story, a child’s vaccination

Children aged five to 11 can get seriously ill from COVID-19, which means getting your child a COVID-19 vaccine is worth it.

Kate Mahoney is one mother who was eager to get her children vaccinated against the virus. When Health Canada announced the approval of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11 in November 2021, Mahoney’s two children were pretty excited.

In particular, Mahoney’s son, Henry, 8, said the vaccine couldn’t come fast enough. Now, he often asks her if boosters are being offered to children yet.

Mahoney’s daughter, Amelia, 6, was a little scared of receiving her vaccine because of the needle involved. “We talked about what a needle would be like,” said Mahoney. “We reminded her about getting another children’s immunization the previous year, how it wasn’t that bad.”  

On vaccination day, Mahoney picked up Henry and Amelia from their school in Regina. “My children thought this was ‘pretty cool’ as lots of kids hadn’t had their vaccination yet and it was special for my children to be going for their shots.”

Henry said, “The nurses were really good.”

“It also helped my daughter having an older brother who had a positive approach and knowing he was on board to get the shot,” said Mahoney. “And both children had only a sore arm the next day.”

After waiting the required 21 days, the Mahoney children received their second shot of the two-dose series. Mahoney said, “They did better than expected.” Henry and Amelia were excited to tell their friends.

Following their second doses, both children got COVID-19, but because they were vaccinated, their illness was far less severe.

“Mainly they each had a cough,” said Mahoney. “We isolated the children for 10 days. They started feeling better before the isolation period ended.”

Clinical trials showed good immune responses to the Pfizer vaccine in children aged five to 11, above all when they received the two-dose series. As we learn to live with COVID-19, vaccination is the best way to reduce severity and phase of illness.

For more information, including questions and answers on children’s COVID-19 five to 11 vaccinations.