Clinics open for B.C. kids ages 5-11 to be immunized against COVID-19

Huddled togetherinmatching white-and-polka-dot masks,the Wolaksiblings glanced around the room and disagreedon how to feel.

Jacob, 10, was positivehe was straight-up excited but maybe just a little bit nervous.

Joshua, 7, felt an even mix between the two.

Their little sisterwas not excited at all.

"Nervous," deadpanned Julia, 5.

The siblingswere among the children between five and 11 years old who received the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine in B.C. on Monday, the first day the vaccine became available to kids their age across the province.

Their father, Arthur,fed off his kids' nerves and felt jittery, but their mom was certain abouthow she felt.

"Thrilled. Completely, completely and utterly excited,"saidDr. Anna Wolak, standing in line at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver with her family.

"We've been waiting so long to get these little ones vaccinated and this is the protection we can give them."

Children are receiving Pfizer's pediatric vaccine, the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved in Canada for children in that age group. Health Canadaapproved the vaccine on Nov. 19,adding roughly 350,000 children to the list of those eligible for a shot in B.C.

Invitations to book appointments started going out Monday to families with children who have been registered through the province's portal, with a number of same-day appointments available but not everyone who'd registered their kids got the invite.

Wolak had signed her children up in October, but didn't get the alert on Monday. She was ableto book her children's Monday afternoon appointment after phoning the provincial hotline.

Adam Chodoshad the same experience. He started phoning at 7 a.m. and got an appointment for his family on the fifth try.

"It took about 45 minutes," said Chodos, who also ended up withan appointment at the cultural centre.

Health minister asks for patience

Health Minister Adrian Dix acknowledgedthere mightbe some frustrations on Day 1 for parents trying to get an appointment for their child, as other people are also trying to bookbooster shots or making appointments for their first or second vaccination.

"We ask people to be patient, and when their children are invited to be vaccinated to register and get an appointment.''

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said last week that about 350,000 children are eligible for the vaccine.Roughly 104,000 children in that group wereregistered to receive the invitation to bookas of Monday, according to the province.

The province said it was sending 8,000 invitations every hour Monday.

Health Canada approved the pediatric shot for use in Canada after an independent scientific review confirmed the first vaccine formulated for younger children is safe and effective.

Henry, who visited the University Heights vaccination clinic in Victoria on Monday,saidthe same vaccine has been administered to more than three million children in the United States and there have been no "safety signals" as a result.

Dr. Penny Ballem, the executive lead for B.C.'s vaccination drive, said last week she expects the full children's immunization effort, including second doses, to be doneby the end of January.

The Wolak children received their doses Monday one after the other.

Julia, sitting on her mom's lap and dressed ina"science is magic," T-shirt, squeezed her eyes shut as the needle went in.

Joshua followed, climbinginto his mom's lap for his turn.

Jacob, the eldest, did it alone with asinglereassuring nod from his dad.

Afterward, the three of them agreed it wasn't what they worried it could've been.

"Better," said Julia.