BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — As early as Wednesday evening some health institutions started administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12-15, including Northwest Hospital.
"We're defiantly proud to be one of the first. We started vaccinated last night after the CDC approved," said Dr. Jonathan Thierman, LifeBridge Health’s chief medical information officer. "We've been ready for the last couple weeks, making arrangements with appointments."
By midday Thursday health professionals at LifeBridge's Northwest Hospital administered over 100 shots to the new age group.
Among them was 12-year-old Jordan Gladstone.
"It didn't hurt," he said. "When she first put the needle in, I felt a little pinch."
Jordan's mom Julie told WMAR-2 News getting her son vaccinated felt right.
"You know, this is a sigh of relief," she said. "It feels like we're going to be able to finally move forward and do all the normal things that we love to do."
Also receiving the shot was 14-year-old Noah Gettz.
"I really don't like shot but I'm excited," said Noah.
His mom told WMAR her son was the last in the family to be vaccinated because of his age.
"I jumped as quickly as I could to get him an appointment," said Noah's mother Stacey. "I just felt like it was important for him as an individual, as a family member and as a community member. This is just us just doing our part."
Prior to Wednesday's CDC announcement, COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. had only been authorized for people age 16 and older.
Pfizer is the first vaccine manufacturer to gain emergency use authorization for younger children, following a clinical trial that showed the vaccine was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in study participants who were ages 12 to 15.
