CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Novant Health started the process of vaccinating kids in light of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommending the vaccine for kids ages 5-11.
What You Need To Know
- Novant Health is now vaccinating kids ages 5-11
- 10-year-old Bella Nissen was first in line Thursday morning at the event
- One pediatrician says getting kids vaccinated will help fight the pandemic
Bella Nissen, 10, stood first in line Thursday morning to get her shot.
Her mother, Nikki, says they’ve been waiting for it to get approved for kids her age, and now she’s relieved to give Bella that extra layer of protection.
“Often when we go places, signs say, you know, if you are vaccinated, you cannot wear a mask, and well, you are not vaccinated and you need to wear your mask,” Nikki Nissen said. “So, I think that is what she is most looking forward to."
The physician leader for Novant Health Children’s Institute, Dr. Catherine Ohmstede, says getting kids vaccinated will make a big difference in ending the pandemic.
“When young children can get vaccinated, spread in schools will be much less of an issue,” Ohmstede said. "If we can get the rates down in our community by vaccinating as many people as possible, we’ll be able to put masks away, which we all can’t wait for, and give children a chance to know they are doing their part to end this pandemic they are growing up in.”
Novant Health says it had 132 appointments for kids Thursday.