Families, kids delighted as 1st COVID-19 vaccines for young kids administered in Windsor-Essex

On the day he was first eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, 11-year-old Liam Pangilinan of Windsor was delighted. 

"I'm most excited about going to my cousins' in the U.S. and seeing them again," he said, just ahead of his appointment. "I missed going to parties with them and spending time with them."

Liam's parents William Pangilinan and Holly Guevera were ready and waiting for a chance to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for their two oldest kids, who were some of the first to get jabbed on Thursday. 

"They've been talking about it even before they were allowed, asking when they can get it," said Pangilinan.

"Our family is from Michigan so we haven't been able to see some of them," said Guevera. "So when they found out they could get it they were very excited."

Liam's younger brother Lexington, 9, also went along with his brother to get vaccinated. The boys were two of about 33,000 children in Windsor-Essex newly eligible to receive the shot.

"I feel happy and not scared at all," said Liam, whose younger brother was a bit wary of getting a prick.

"I'm excited but nervous for the shot," said Lexington. 

Ten-year-old Jenna Smith from Amherstburg received her COVID-19 vaccine on the first day she could. For her, it was a step toward getting back to normal.

"I wanted to be able to go have fun and be a kid again," she said.

The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11 years old were administered on Thursday morning at the mass vaccination clinic at the Devonshire Mall.

Smith said staff inside the clinic were wearing costumes of characters such as Spider-Man, Cinderella and Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

"It was really cool for all the kids, so they weren't scared," she said.

Eleven-year-old Oliver was the first person in that age group to get vaccinated on Thursday morning, according to a social media post from Windsor Regional Hospital, which runs the vaccination site.