Memorial Health is encouraging all COVID-19 vaccines for children and one Nurse Practitioner Mom is saying that it is bringing her children closer to what she calls “Normal Childhood.” Jamie Cross, a Decatur resident who is a nurse practitioner at Memorial in Decatur has a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old. She got both of them vaccinated and allowed them to pick out a reward at Target. Both children received their first round of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at Memorial Drive-Thru in Springfield. Cross is hoping that it sets a positive example and shows the safety in the vaccine.

The CDC voted on November 2nd, to recommend vaccines for elementary school-age children. In recent surveys, 1/3 of all parents of 5-11 year olds are eager to have their children vaccinated. In that same survey, 30% reported they would not get the vaccine for their children. 

Dr. Anna Richie, a clinical director of urgent care services at Memorial Health says that she understands parent's concerns. One big concern of course being future side effects.  Most side effects according to Richie are mild with redness or swelling around the injection site. However, one big concern is myocarditis which is inflammation around the heart, mostly reported around older teenage boys after receiving the vaccine.

Richie says those are extremely rare and she believes the child is actually more at risk of myocarditis if they contract COVID than from the vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also expressed support for vaccinations.  As for Cross, she is happy they got the vaccine and is thrilled that they are protected from severe illness that can come from contracting the virus.