As Manitoba kids roll up their sleeves for COVID-19 shot, providers say their comfort is paramount
CBC
Mary-Elle and her brother Jacob Clark were among the first children between the ages of five and 11 in Manitoba to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Winnipeg's downtown supersite on Wednesday.
"I'm excited, but also a bit nervous," Mary-Elle said.
"After, we're going to go to Boston Pizza for a celebration dinner lunch thing," Jacob added.
As thousands of Manitoba children prepare to roll up their sleeves, providers are working to ensure they feel safe and comfortable to get the jab.
Rosalyn Boucha from Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre says staff at their urban Indigenous vaccine clinic have been busy scaling up their operations in anticipation of the 50 children who are scheduled to get their first doses on Thursday.
The area where the immunizations are administered is now more private to help keep kids from getting overwhelmed, and activity kits full of crayons, colouring books and toys are stocked.
There will also be wellness workers on site to sit with children to calm them down and help watch those whose siblings are getting vaccinated.
"They're just an extra set of support," Boucha said.
Staff at the urban Indigenous vaccine clinic have been working to be family-friendly from the start, offering many of these same supports for children.
"Even when the little ones were not approved yet for the vaccine, it doesn't necessarily mean that they won't be coming in with their families," Boucha said.
Staff also offer smudging before and after each appointment, and medicine bundles for people to take home.
"It's super meaningful for us to be able to treat the vaccine as sacred medicine and then to be able to use our sacred medicines alongside that in a way that really resonates with the culture," Boucha said.
They also start each day by smudging all the doses of vaccine so that everyone who comes in can smell the sage and sweetgrass.
"That really helps set the tone for the day," she said.
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