CDC gives green light to pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, kids across Triangle get their first dose

RALEIGH, NC (WNCN) — Less than 24 hours after the CDC gave the go-ahead for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, kids across the Triangle were rolling up their sleeves to get their first dose.

It doesn’t happen often, kids look forward to getting shots, but after his COVID-19 vaccine, even Justin DeGroff’s mask couldn’t hide his smile. “It’s exciting because I know that in five weeks I’ll be fully vaccinated and able to do things,” he said.

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Due to a condition that puts Justin at high risk for COVID-19 complications, he was given an appointment the first day that COVID-19 vaccines were available for children ages 5-11 at the Cary Pediatric Center.

dr. Hope Seidel said parents have been anxiously awaiting the vaccines. “Our parents begged for it,” she says. “I mean, there’s definitely a population of parents who have some normal concerns and questions, but we’ve had parents ask us if it would be for Halloween or for Thanksgiving, the holidays.”

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She said more than 1,300 families from Cary, Fuquay-Varina and Apex Pediatric Centers have already applied for admissions. So far, the practice has received 900 doses.

The first vaccines arrived Tuesday, but doctors had to wait for the CDC to give the green light before they could actually start vaccinating patients. When that came, there was no hesitation.

“We thought we would do the vaccines tomorrow. and we transferred everyone today. There isn’t one patient on our list that hasn’t shown up,” Seidel noted.

She urges families with questions or concerns about the injections to talk to their children’s doctors.

“It’s a relief,” Kimberly DeGroff said. “I know he’s not completely protected yet, but we’re close, which is great.”