Urban Indigenous Vaccination Centre begins immunizing Manitoba children

The doctor atthe forefront ofManitoba's First Nations Pandemic Response Team playedtwo important roles on Thursday night: a public health expert promoting the COVID-19 vaccine, and a mom ready to hold the hand of her children as they went to get their first dose.

"I felt a little bit emotional, I got a bit teary," Dr. Marcia Andersonsaid after her daughters andnephew received their shotat the vaccine clinic run out ofMa Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre in Winnipeg.

"It's been a big weight, worrying about our kids when they go to school, hockey games, gatherings orbirthday parties," she said. "Knowing that they're going to have some immune system protection now is just a huge relief," she said.

Anderson's daughters said they think other children should get vaccinated too.

"It's going to protect you," said Anderson's 10-year-old daughter Myla DeCoteau."I was a little bit nervous but it didn't hurt that much."

"I was really scared. I don't really like needles," said 7-year-oldMakena DeCoteau."It was a tiny pinch... it's going to make you safer from getting COVID."

WATCH |'It was a tiny pinch': Dr. Marcia Anderson's children get vaccinated:

Urban Indigenous Vaccination Centre begins vaccinating youngsters

3 years ago

Duration 1:19

Dr. Marcia Anderson, the public health lead for Manitoba's First Nations pandemic response team, brought her kids to get some of the first doses administered to children aged 5-11 at the Urban Indigenous Vaccination Centre in Winnipeg Thursday evening.

Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children age five to 11last week.The province says 25,000 appointments for kids in that age grouphave been booked in Manitoba as of Thursday afternoon.

Anderson said the vaccine experience at Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centrewas a great one for her kids.

Theorganization has been operating as both a COVID-19 testing and vaccination site, offeringdrop-ins and appointments. The urban Indigenous clinic doesnot require identificationor a health card in order to receive services.

The latest numbers show COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact First Nations peoplein Manitoba, something Anderson said illustrates why vaccinating children is so important.

As of Nov. 23, First Nations people represent 40 per cent of the active COVID-19 cases. They also represent nearly onequarter of ICU patients.

Dr. Anderson said she wants children to feel the same relief as teenagers and adults havewhen they becameimmunized.

"Vaccines are incredibly safe. We have so much experience with childhood vaccines," pointing that over 3.6 million kids in the United States have received the shot.

"I trust the science as a parent. I trust the science as apublic health doctor."