Inside the children’s vaccination

ELEPHANTS, RABBITS AND SUPERHEROES brighten children’s vaccination experience

Sta play their part to make centres as child-friendly as possible

Making the vaccine as easy an experience for the young children attending vaccination centres around the country has been a major priority.

Vaccination sta have been going the extra mile in recent months as the younger members of the public have come through their doors.

Berni O’Sullivan, Lead Coordinator for North Main Street Vaccination Centre in Cork, explained how the centres are made as child-friendly as possible to ensure the children leave happy as well as protected from COVID.

“We have looked at ways to make the centre more child-friendly and improve a child’s overall experience,” she said.

“Some of our sta have dressed up in character costumes such as an elephant and a rabbit, with a focus to alleviate any stresses a child may have coming into the centre for their vaccination. We accommodate all children but specifically try to cater to those with sensory issues by bringing them to the centre at earlier times.”

A comic book story has been produced to let children know what to expect during their short time in the vaccination centre.

Sta at the Cavan-based HSE Vaccination Centre donned superhero costumes in recent weeks to create a more inviting space and welcoming experience for children attending.

The centre, at the Kilmore Hotel, Cavan was decorated in an appropriately child-friendly manner and among the superheroes and characters in attendance were Action Man, Spiderman and Snow White. The children received a certificate commending them for their bravery and were given a ribbon to place on a wishing tree created by local artist Heather Brett.

Eddie Ward, Operational Manager explained that they understood how some children may be nervous. But after the child-friendly approach taken, they found that ‘the children here are not fearful’.

“They might be slightly anxious but they know they are somewhere they are being looked after. The more positive their experience, the more likely they are to return for their second vaccine. Some of the children don’t want to go home after the 15-minutes observation – that’s a good sign,” said Eddie. Sta at the centre also produced a video explaining the process of getting your vaccination. This video shows a walk-through of the vaccination process that is easy to follow. Filmed at Cavan Vaccination Centre and narrated by Eddie Ward, the video o ers a step-by-step guide for children and parents on what to expect throughout their vaccination journey.

“We wanted to explain to children and their parents what the process involves when they make their decision to get their child vaccinated. The video is filmed from the child’s perspective and aims to allay any fears they may have before they come to the centre,” said Eddie.

The video also features some superheroes, as sta are wearing various superhero costumes in Cavan for all the children’s clinics.

CHO 1 Lead for COVID-19 Vaccination Programme and CHO 1 Head of Service for Health and Wellbeing Cara O’Neill said, “We would like to support parents/guardians to get all the information they need to make an informed decision about getting their child’s vaccinated. There is a wealth of factual evidence based information on www.hse.ie. We really look forward to welcoming you and your children to Cavan and Monaghan Vaccination Centres.” The video can be seen by clicking this link: https://youtu.be/1w5FZ-WxMnU

From left to right: Cavan – Leona Morrow with her son Mackenzie after he got his vaccination in Cavan, with Superman Gary Coyle, vaccinator Roisin Sexton Smith, Supergirl Curran, and Private Bernard Harmon, 27th Battalion. Dundalk – Charlotte Weston following her vaccination in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk.

COVID-19 VACCINE FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 11 – GET THE VACCINE FACTS

COVID-19 vaccine is available for children aged 5 to 11 years. Dr Lucy Jessop, Director of Public Health in the HSE National Immunisation O ce shares the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine for children.

How can I protect my child from COVID-19?

“COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all children aged 5 to 11. The vaccine is particularly recommended for children who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, or if they live with a child or an adult who has complex medical needs or are immunocompromised,” said Dr Jessop.“Though serious illness from COVID-19 is rare in children, they are even less likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19 if they are vaccinated.”

What vaccine will my child be o ered?

The vaccine your child is being o ered is made by Pfi zer and is called Comirnaty. It is a lower dose vaccine than the one o ered to people aged 12 years and older.It has been tested with over 2,000 children aged between 5 and 11 years of age as part of clinical trials. No additional safety concerns were identifi ed in the clinical trial for children in this age group.

How many doses of COVID-19 vaccine are needed?

“Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine are recommended 21 days apart,” said Dr Jessop. Other vaccines cannot be given in the 14 days before or the 14 days after your 5 to 11 year old gets the COVID-19 vaccine. Children with a weak immune system may need an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, at least 28 days after their second dose.

How does the vaccine work?

“This mRNA vaccine teaches your child’s body how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response, without using the live virus that caused COVID-19,” explained Dr Jessop. “Your child’s body then makes antibodies that help fight the infection if the COVID-19 virus enters their body in the future. Before vaccination, you will be asked to give consent for your child to get the vaccine and this consent will be recorded.”

Can children who have already had COVID-19, get the vaccine?

If your child has had COVID-19 they will likely have some protection from COVID-19 but they could get COVID-19 again. Getting vaccinated will reduce the risk of getting it again. Your child can get the COVID-19 vaccine four weeks after they first developed symptoms or four weeks after their positive COVID-19 test.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine have side e ects?

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side e ects. Most of these are mild to moderate, short-term, and not everyone gets them. You should read the information on the HSE website and in the information leaflet so that you’re aware of possible side e ects before you consent to your child’s vaccine. The information will also tell you what to expect after your child’s vaccination.

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine for your child

Parents and guardians can register their child for COVID-19 vaccination on the HSE website: www.hse.ie/book or you can call HSELive on 1800 700 700 to register your child over the phone.

More information

Visit the HSE.ie website for dedicated information for parents including a comic strip to help children understand what they can expect when they go for their vaccine. Visit the immunisation.ie website for information for health professionals including frequently asked questions.