LYNNFIELD — The town took a big step toward stopping the spread of COVID-19, hosting a vaccination clinic Saturday and Sunday that saw more than 550 children ages 5-11 get their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
While most kids dread getting shots, the clinic prioritized keeping things fun with complimentary snacks, a large-screen TV showing movies in the “waiting room,” (aka the Lynnfield Middle School auditorium), and even a therapy dog named Lila to keep anxieties at bay.
Families were grateful to finally be able to get their young children vaccinated.
“I hope the numbers go down now that kids can be vaccinated,” said Ashley Monaghan, who has three children ages 10 and under. “My kids just want to be able to do their normal activities, so we had no hesitation about signing up.”
Monaghan’s son Declan, 10, a fifth grader at Huckleberry Hill School, said there was nothing to it.
“It didn’t hurt at all,” he said.
Brian and Bridget Charville’s three children also got their first shots.
“It went so well and could not have been easier or more timely,” said Brian.
“Our oldest was out of school for 10 days when the two third-grade classes were shut down,” Bridget said. “We want them in school.”
Clinic organizer and the town’s COVID-19 Nurse Liaison Toni Rebelo said every effort was made to make the event a positive experience for all.
“This was just like coming to school for a school event, not going to the doctor. There was zero stress for the most part,” Rebelo said. “Families have been waiting a long time for this, so we wanted to be ahead of the game and on top of it. We planned ahead. We were ready to go once the vaccine was approved.
“The kids were so excited,” she added. “They don’t want their classrooms shut down again.”
The shutdown Rebelo mentioned is the recent closure of two third-grade classes at the Summer Street School for 10 days following a spike in the number of cases at the school.
Fire Chief and Emergency Management Team Director Glenn Davis said many of the breakthrough cases in town are due to people contracting the virus from their children.
“The kids come home from school and pass it to their parents or they get it from a sibling,” Davis said. “You can’t segregate at home so there’s not much you can do to prevent it except get vaccinated.”
According to Davis, 358 children were registered for Saturday, with another 197 registered for Sunday. Davis hopes that, between the clinic and children getting vaccinated through medical providers and pharmacies, more than half of all children now eligible to get the vaccine (1,229 children in K-6) have received first doses.
“There are more children getting vaccinated elsewhere. The number of cases has been better (48 cases in the 1-9 age group and 116 total cases over the past 14 days as of Saturday),” said Davis. “Today can only help. It was quick and simple and easy peasy. It took about a minute and a half tops once the kids were with the nurses. We had to hold a couple of hands and nurses had to talk to a few kids to make sure they were comfortable but we had only one child who didn’t get the shot (Saturday). The kids are happy to be here.”
Davis and Rebelo stressed the importance of having the clinic close to home.
“Kids know their nurses, they know the school, they see their friends, so the whole point is to make it easier for folks who want to take advantage of it,” Davis said.
“We know what works and we know what doesn’t,” Rebelo said. “Half the battle is anxiety so with our own staff and nurses, kids see familiar faces. It’s a personal touch, which you can’t beat. Parents appreciate being able to bring their children to a place they know. Kids see this as a school event, not a doctor’s appointment.”
Davis credited Rebelo for the clinic’s success.
“This is all Toni and her team. She not only put this whole operation together, she’s giving shots. She’s coaching kids who may be hesitant. Toni owns this. She has made this very easy for parents and kids.”
“This is a tribute to the town leaders,” Brian Charville said. “They made everything work perfectly.”
School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg said the clinic is a “prime example of forward thinking on the Lynnfield Emergency Management Team
“The clinic once again shows the vital resource they are for the community,” he said. “By the number of registrations, I know many Lynnfield parents are eager to get their youngest learners vaccinated. We will continue to work hard to make the vaccines accessible to everyone in Lynnfield.”
