I love needles.
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That's not what you hear children say too often, but that's exactly what Kelly Andrews was told by one of her teenage daughters.
Hearing that reaffirmed to the Healthy Cities Illawarra boss she was doing the right thing by booking her kids to get vaccinated.
From tomorrow bookings can be made to vaccinate children aged 12 to 15. This comes after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) stated it was safe for this group to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
This was music to the ears of Mrs Andrews. The Figtree resident plans on registering her daughters Riley, 15 and 12-year-old Asha for a shot of either Pfizer or Moderna.
Her son Lewis is only 11, but he will get vaccinated as soon as he turns 12 in April next year.
Read more: All 12- to 15-year-olds offered vaccine this year
"It is a no brainer. It is the only way we are going to come out of lockdown and resemble any normal life that we are all craving," she said.
'The sooner I can get my kids vaccinated the better, because they want to get back to their normal life too.
"They are just craving their friends and their social stimulus as much as anything."
While bookings are open, getting the vaccine itself is another matter entirely.
Because Pfizer supplies remain limited, ATAGI said the vaccination of 12-15 year olds was considered a lower priority than older adults, because the direct benefits of vaccination are greatest in older Australians.
Regardless, the fully vaccinated Mrs Andrews is confident vaccinating her children is safe and the right thing to do.
The sooner I can get my kids vaccinated the better, because they want to get back to their normal life too.
- Healthy Cities Illawarra boss Kelly Andrews
"I'm kind of lucky working in the public health system and understanding evidence of science and the rigor that it takes to get these vaccines passed by the authorities.
"f it is good enough for them, it is plenty good enough for me," she said.
"From a population health point of view it takes lots of individuals to combine to do the common good, so no I don't really have any concerns from that point of view either."
The #vaxtheillawarra campaign supporter added her children were "super keen" to get jabbed.
"It is not only missing out on school and seeing their friends, they play sports as well," Mrs Andrews said.
"They had the floor cut out from beneath them, their winter sports just came to a sudden end and their summer sports haven't really opened up.
"From their perspective they want to have their sport back and be able to socialise with their friends again like normal teenagers.
"So they're really keen and looking forward to be vaccinated. In fact one of them said 'I love needles, I can't wait to get jabbed'."
Mrs Andrews said it was important to support the #vaxtheillawarra campaign to try and be the first region to reach the 80 per cent vaccination rate.
"Wearing my two hats, I want to get as many people vaccinated and in the process dispel as many myths and fears as possible."
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
