Pharmacy sees ‘big turnout’ for kids 12 to 15 getting vaccine
DARIEN — Relief, excitement and cautious optimism combined Sunday as COVID-19 vaccinations were administered to young people ages 12 to 15 at Grieb’s Pharmacy.
“I’m just happy to see it getting done,” said Sandra Smeriglio, a pharmacist at Grieb’s Pharmacy, which has been administering shots since the vaccine became available.
“It’s a big turnout,” she said, with the vaccination becoming available this week to
those age 12 and up. “I think everyone is aware.”
Along with early walk-ins, there were 250 people scheduled for the approved Pfizer shots Sunday afternoon, most of which were ages 12 to 15, coming from Darien, Norwalk and surrounding towns.
“I guess I’m just glad to get it,” said Dylan Payne, 12, of Norwalk, noting it brings freedom to travel and more comfortably allows engagement with friends.
“For school and people who do sports, they can feel more comfortable,” said Brooke Sassa, 14, of Darien, who also got her first shot at Grieb’s on Sunday. “I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“It’s an opportunity for life to get back to normal and for school getting back to what it was, and for them to be more comfortable in social situations,” said her mother, Allison Sassa.
It’s no secret that a rift has developed between people in favor of the vaccine and those opposed to it, with arguments on both sides touching high emotion.
“I think it’s stupid,” Dylan said of those who are not getting vaccinated, “because they’re like the same people who are refusing to wear masks.”
“I don’t know if you’re making the right decision,” said parent Melissa Stein, of Wilton, who brought her 12-year-old son, Harrison in for his shot, but she added she’s also not completely convinced there’s enough research on young people regarding it.
“I’m here doing what I think is best,” she said. “If I can keep him safe, this is what I’m going to do.”
“It’s just scary that this is what’s happened to our world,” she said, noting it all amounts to a pivotal point in history that this generation’s children will be telling their own children about.
“It feels good,” Harrison said of getting his first shot. “Then I won’t have to worry about it.”
“I’m thrilled, just thrilled,” said Colette Sovak of Norwalk, whose son Jack, 15, got the shot on Sunday. “As soon as it became available for 12 and up, we called right away.”
“Everybody has to do what they feel is right for them,” she said, “but I think the world is so anxious to get back to normal (and) we need to get to that 70 or 80 percent of the country.”
“I’m hoping with this new push that’ll happen,” she said.
“I get their concern,” teen Jack Sovak said of those opposed to the vaccination, “but I think you should just be responsible and do the right thing.”
Registered nurse Kimberly Hibben is in apparent agreement. The daughter of Grieb’s longtime owners Deb and Chuck Hibben, she began giving the vaccines at the store on Sunday.
“From a nursing end, it’s nice to feel they can get vaccinated,” she said of the 12-15 age group. “It feels like finally we’re coming to an end of a terrible year for everybody.”