CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some parents of younger children are happy to hear Pfizer's announcement that its COVID-19 vaccine has shown to be safe in clinical trials.
Many parents with children 12 and up have experienced some relief when their kids were approved for the vaccine; but folks like Heather Easley, who have had a glimpse of a more normal life, are getting antsy for their younger ones.
"So this wait on the 5- to 11-year-old age group has felt kind of torturous," she said.
CPS parent Maritza Nieves has let her children decide if they get vaccinated and she said her 9-year-old daughter is eager to join the rest of the family in getting the shot.
"I am excited. I do not look forward to my child being tested weekly, so this would avoid that and cut out the stage where everybody is contagious or presumed contagious," she said.
Her daughter's CPS school in Logan Square has not started weekly testing yet, but she's not looking forward to when that time comes.
Nieves said they've lost close friends and relatives to the virus so she's limited her daughter's exposure to people outside their circle and has been frequently checking for updates on when the Pfizer vaccine may get FDA approval for kids under 12.
Anna Volerman Beaser is not only a CPS parent, but a pediatrician. She called the vaccine a game changer.
"I think the vaccine will offer a level of protection for each of our individual children, but also for our schools and school communities that will allow - with good uptick of the vaccine - a level of normalcy that we haven't seen in over 18 months," she said.
Some parents spoke of putting off vacations, because their young children haven't been able to get vaccinated, and avoiding indoor playdates and other events.
