MOUNT LAUREL – A two-year-old in a pink dress sat patiently on her mother’s lap, quietly enjoying a lemon lollipop while waiting for her shot.
Now approved for children from six months in age to four years old, parents and guardians in South Jersey are opting to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.
When paramedic Jeff Levine inserted the needle into her upper left leg, little Olivia Bozarth of Bellmawr let not a single peep slip.
Olivia, who has asthma, was the first child to get vaccinated on the first day Pfizer vaccine was offered to her age group at Burlington County’s COVID-19 vaccine mega site, overseen by Virtua Health in the Eastgate Square shopping center at 1190 Nixon Drive in Mount Laurel.
Her only reaction: She asked for a new lollipop after Levine applied a fun, Elmo-emblazoned bandage. Olivia gladly accepted a strawberry pop and then got to blow some bubbles as she waited for the required 15 minutes of observation with her mother Jessica Bozarth.
“Of the 150 youngest children we have vaccinated in the three days since we started giving the shots June 24, none of them have had an immediate reaction,” said Phyllis Worrell, emergency management coordinator for Virtua Health and the health care coordinator for the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management. “And our number of clients has escalated since we started.”
Currently pediatric doses of Pfizer vaccine are being offered to the very young, but the first shipment of Moderna vaccine is expected soon, according to Worrell.
Bozarth said she had been waiting for the vaccinations to be approved for the youngest of children because her daughter suffers from asthma and would be a higher risk for a serious case of COVID-19 without one.
“It’s a big relief knowing that if she contracts it, she would not face hospitalization, “ Jessica said.
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Soon after Olivia was vaccinated, Rebecca Di Mattesa of Sewell strolled into the center with daughter, Alexis, age 1, followed by Dennis Irizarry of Hopatcong.
He arrived with his two sons, 2-year-old Dean and his already vaccinated 10-year-old, Bryce.
Like Olivia, neither youngster Alexis or Dean had any reaction to the shots they received and never whimpered or cried.
Di Mattesa said she has several reasons she supports vaccinations for her toddler and the rest of the family.“I believe in the science behind vaccines. Look how much good they have accomplished in eradicating disease around the world. I also have some health issues and third, I also feel a responsibility that we should take care of one another for the greater good of all,” she explained.
She said it annoys her that some people refuse to be vaccinated.
“Yes, they have a right to make a choice, but they are not helping the community,” she added.
Di Matessa’s views on the vaccine were echoed by Irizarry, who said a couple of members of his extended family have died from COVID-19.“We believe in vaccines and want to be safe for our family and friends,” he said.Irizarry said he drove for more than an hour from Hopatcong to Burlington County because it offered the first available vaccinations for the youngest children.
Worrell also said there is less crying than the medical staff expected from such small children when they get a needle. “We thought we might have to wear ear protection,” she noted, “but that has not been necessary.”Worrell said pharmacies can only vaccinate children aged three or under if there is a nurse or doctor on staff and they have the pediatric doses.
“Each day’s reservations have been filled,” said Burlington County Health Department spokesman David Levinsky. The county vaccinated 100 children in the first two days at its offices in Westampton and had 80 scheduled for the two days last week.
Health departments in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties also have begun vaccinating young children.
In Vineland, vaccines for children will begin next week and the Cumberland County Health Department hopes to start doing so by mid-month.
“And by that time we will be able to offer both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for them,” said Cumberland County Health Director Megan Sheppard.
Where to go:
For information about the mega-site, visit www.co.burlington.nj.us or call 609-265-5548.
Vaccinations at the Gloucester County Department of Health are available every Thursday at the Sewell office. Appointments are preferred but not necessary. Visit: https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/en-US/ to schedule one.
The Camden County Health Hub administers vaccines at Camden County College in Blackwood a few days a week. Visit www.CamdenCountyVaccine.com for appointment days and times.
In Cumberland County, check the county website at www.ccvh.org for vaccine info.
Individuals can also book appointments on the NJVSS website or use the NJ COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Finder to get an appointment at locations throughout New Jersey at https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/finder Some sites accommodate individuals who walk-in without a booking appointment.
The New Jersey Vaccine Call Center also is available to assist individuals seeking booster dose appointments at 1-855-568-0545.
