LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Children in the valley are preparing to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated. The Southern Nevada Health District began giving vaccines to children ages 5 to 11 on Wednesday, but a local pediatrician is looking to offer another option.
dr. Atousa Ghaneian, a pediatrician at Sunrise Children’s Hospital, says she is the first in the valley ready to shoot from her office. More than 50 children signed up for her first clinic.
Erika Vanessa Arias Morales is a mother of one of the children who signed up on that list and she says it will be a huge burden off her shoulders to have her child vaccinated.
“It’s really scary, especially for me as a mom, knowing there are a lot of people who don’t want to get the vaccine,” Morales said.
Morales contracted COVID-19 just before giving birth last year. She says she’s been through some of the worst pain ever and wants to make sure her kids don’t.
“If we want to end this, we have to do our part and lower the numbers, so we have to get our vaccines,” Morales said.
Morales says she knows that children can carry this virus. Her father lives in their house and although he may have been vaccinated, she fears that her children may give him something.
She says Latinos have been hit hard by this disease, especially in homes where a few generations live together. She believes that there is a good chance that someone will bring the virus home.
“We Latinos have more than two kids at home, so even though my son can get his shot on Friday, the little one won’t and I’m concerned about that,” Morales said.
Morales says that Dr. Ghana was one of the few options available in the valley. dr. Ghanaian planned this moment almost two months in advance. Her staff is trained to administer shots. They have learned the rules given by the CDC to ensure that each dose is given correctly. She says that as we get closer to the holidays, our children need to be protected.
“They will want to hug their aunts and their grandparents, and good friends of Mom and Dad who will be there around the Thanksgiving dinner table, they will kiss and there will be a lot of contacts, so the risk is much higher,” said Dr Ghaneian.
She says children’s response to the vaccine will be very similar to that of adults.
“Maybe they expect a side effect with the first injection, they can get a fever, they can get some chills,” said Dr. Ghanaian.
dr. Ghanaian says you don’t have to be her patient to get vaccinated. You can simply call their office or go online to check their availability or click here for SNHD’s webpage.
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