The Anxious Wait for Covid-19 Vaccinations for Our Children (by Angela Eilers)

Myka holding her vaccine card. [image description: A light-skinned girl with shoulder-length blond hair holds up her vaccination card. She is standing outside a chain drug store, with signs on its windows. She wears a striped t-shirt and denim shorts.]

September 24th felt like an eternity away. September 24th was my daughter Myka’s 12th birthday. We began counting down to her big day the minute the CDC, last May, approved Covid-19 vaccines for kids 12 and up. Myka, the youngest of my three kids, is the only unvaccinated person in our family of five. Although she went back to school full-time, in-person while masked up, we knew that every day she left our home, she would be exposed to many elements but none as worrisome as Covid-19.

Myka was born with an undiagnosed congenital heart defect, and we were told by her team of doctors to vaccinate as soon as we were able. All three kids are very active--Myka has been involved in Girl Scouts, ice skating, aerial and now volleyball for many years--so we knew being careful, masking up, and vaccinating our entire family would be the best way to protect Myka until she herself was able to receive hers.

It wasn’t easy to wait. We walked a fine line of allowing our kids the opportunity to be kids and maintain their active lifestyles of playing sports and competing, attending school and school functions, and seeing their friends. We knew we took a risk each time they left the house. In the beginning, we felt all those around us in our community were on the same page until they weren’t. Our schools required masks to begin the new school year but this was not received well and many local and vocal parents combatted this at school board meetings each month. It left us feeling extremely vulnerable and alone.

We kept Myka as well protected as we knew how. Many times we had to say no to a Girl Scout outing or a friend activity, devastating our daughter in the meantime, but knowing it was in her best interests. We simply wanted to get to her 12th birthday.

The morning of Myka’s birthday, I logged on to finally schedule a vaccination appointment for her. I would waste no time. As I drove my older boys to school, tears began to well up. My very wise 14-year-old son noticed my emotions and said, “You’re crying tears of relief aren’t you?” Yes. Yes, I was. The overwhelming weight of worry had been removed from my shoulders. Although she would not be fully protected for another 6 weeks, I knew having that first injection would make all the difference in our family’s fight to keep her safe.

As we hear word that vaccines may be approved for 5 – 12 year olds very soon, I beg parents to hold on just a little bit more. We’ve all held on for so long, waiting and hoping for our children to be protected from Covid. We’ve endured challenges to our children’s schooling, friendships, and activities. We’ve surfed the mask wars in our communities. Hope is on the horizon.

The debilitating worry can be overpowering at times. Understand this, you are not alone.

Angela Eilers lives in Yorba Linda, California, with her family. She is a member of Little Lobbyists.