Hundreds of school-age children received COVID-19 vaccines at Hudson Middle School Friday, alongside their parents, health care workers dressed in superhero capes - and even the governor.
Disney music blared over the loudspeaker and superhero signs hung from the walls as kids as young as 5 came in to get their shot.
Six-year-old Mia Spirtos-Bacino got the vaccine 鈥渂ecause it鈥檒l fight off the virus,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really feel safe on the playground because there are so many classes, so many people,鈥� she said.
As she stood in line with her mom, Pennie, waiting to be called back, she said she was nervous and did not like getting shots 鈥� but was all smiles afterward.
鈥淚t hurt a little bit. Not too, too bad,鈥� Spirtos-Bacino, who turns 7 on Sunday, said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited for my birthday party so I can 鈥� invite a few more people.鈥�
Gov. Mike DeWine talked and took pictures with some of the kids, and spoke to members of the media about the efforts to get Ohio children vaccinated. At least 200 schools across the state are holding clinics for the 5 to 11 age group, DeWine said.
鈥淚t really makes a difference when a vaccination takes place in a school because the school is the heart of the community. The school is the place that we trust. The school is the place that we鈥檙e used to taking our kids to,鈥� DeWine said. 鈥淢ore people are going to feel comfortable about getting vaccinated.鈥�
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11 last week.
The school health services department at Akron Children鈥檚 Hospital has partnered with more than 20 school districts in Northeast Ohio to offer vaccination clinics for this age group, said Christine Young, chief nursing officer at Akron Children鈥檚.
More than 600 kids age 5 to 11 got the vaccine at the Hudson Middle School clinic, she said, and more than 3,500 children in this age group got vaccinated at other school clinics and at Akron Children鈥檚 community clinic this past week.
鈥淭here is a lot of interest, as was evidenced by today,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he lines were out the door and parents are really excited to be able to have this opportunity.鈥�
Gwynne Simmons, whose 9-year-old son Ben also received the vaccine in Hudson Friday, decided to sign him up for the shot after weighing the pros and cons, she said.
鈥淚 thought overall, I was very excited that it was offered, and I think it was the right thing to do,鈥� Simmons said. 鈥淚 had my concerns, but I think it鈥檚 overwhelmingly positive than the negative. There鈥檚 always a risk in things, and I think this was the best choice for us.鈥�
Her son said he is excited to get the shot so he can hold his new baby cousin.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 get close enough to him yet because he is a baby and we don鈥檛 want to get him sick,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t first I felt kind of nervous, but then when it鈥檚 over, it goes so fast and it feels like it鈥檚 over super quick. It doesn鈥檛 really hurt, the part where you get it.鈥�
Eleven-year-old Conner Nelson said the shot did not hurt at all.
鈥淚t felt painless and it keeps me more safe,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just felt excited that I could get it finally and I could just be more safe with my family.鈥�
His dad, Kevin Nelson, is a firefighter, and said he was eager for his middle schooler to get the shot.
鈥淚鈥檓 one of the first responders, so I was able to get my vaccine very early on, but that was always a fear - if something happens and I bring it back home to my family. So, I鈥檓 happy now that the whole family can be safe,鈥� Nelson said.
While talking to kids at the clinic, DeWine said he was reminiscing on a similar experience he had as a child: receiving the polio vaccine when he was in second grade in 1955.
鈥淚 told several of the children, and I didn鈥檛 expect them to know what polio was. Thank God they don鈥檛 know what polio is,鈥� DeWine said.
About 60 percent of Ohio鈥檚 population is vaccinated, although the percentage is closer to 40 in the 12 to 15 age range, he said. DeWine hopes there will be good uptake of the shot in the 5 to 11 group, he said.
鈥淚t really gives families more confidence and really more flexibility about what they can do at Thanksgiving, what they can do at Christmas,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚, I think, peace of mind for families, and that鈥檚 one of the impressions I got as I talked to people in there.鈥�
Pennie Spirtos, whose daughter Mia received the shot, said she will feel safer gathering around family now. She also has four-year-old twin sons and hopes younger age groups will have access to the shot in the future.
鈥淚 feel like this will allow us to still be very conservative with what we do, but at least we will have an extra layer of protection,鈥� Spirtos said. 鈥淚 will feel better knowing at least she has the shot.鈥�
Akron Children鈥檚 also held a clinic in the Nordonia Hills school district Friday, and Akron Public Schools will host a clinic for eligible students Saturday, officials said.
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