COVID-19: Unicorns, therapy dogs help Quebec vaccinate children – Montreal | The Canadian News

Demand was high on the first day of the mass vaccination campaign for children between the ages of five and 11 in Quebec, with many parents describing feelings of relief at finally protecting their youngest children against COVID-19.

The Kececi family couldn’t wait for their 11-year-old son Karan to receive the COVID vaccine and were among the first to book an appointment when they became available Tuesday morning.

Karan said he was nervous entering, but his fears quickly disappeared.

“It felt like nothing,” he said after his shot.

His mother said that Karan was the last member of his family to be vaccinated.

“It’s been a very difficult year or two for all of us,” Ayse Kecici said. “It is a relief to have him vaccinated in our family as well.”

Karan was just one of more than 100,000 kids across the province who made appointments as soon as they opened Tuesday.

“So far, the demand is high,” said Dr. Paul Le Guerrier, a Montreal Public Health physician who coordinates the vaccination campaign.

“Yesterday they told me that there were about 400 appointments per minute in the province.”

Not all of the 500 children who received the vaccine at the Palais des Congrès on the first day were as carefree as Karan.

Some younger children screamed and cried in fear as they received their vaccinations, but the vaccinators arrived prepared.

An emotional support dog named Flat was present and sat on Ali Al Fallugi’s son’s lap as he was shot. The boy was totally distracted.

“My son didn’t even realize he had the vaccine, in fact it was perfect,” Al Fallugi said.

Le Guerrier said that the entire setup of the Palais des Congrès is organized so that children feel comfortable.

There are pictures of unicorns and other creatures on the walls, decals delivered after the shots and Where’s waldoTypographic images shown to children to distract them while they get vaccinated.

“Honestly, I think it was great,” said JF Benson, while his two daughters were being vaccinated.

Eleven-year-old Mika-Ella Varin was happy to get the vaccine so she could travel again.

“I couldn’t go on vacation much,” she said, explaining that she was looking forward to getting back to New York City. Some other families with young children spoke about the possibility of traveling to their home countries in Europe again.

Public health officials are most excited about limiting outbreaks in schools.

“We know right now that there are a lot of outbreaks in schools,” Le Guerrier said. “Children have to be isolated, brothers and sisters have to be quarantined, parents have to miss work. Vaccinating children will be good for all those psychosocial problems. “

Le Guerrier says the smaller dose children receive should produce fewer side effects compared to the adult dose, which is 91 percent safe and effective in protecting children from COVID-19, and that vaccinating it age group is the next step to get the vaccine. pandemic behind us.

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