First lady Jill Biden visits Philly to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for kids

As children got vaccinated against the coronavirus on Friday at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia pediatric care center in West Philadelphia, they joined more than 13,300 elementary-school-age kids who have already done so in Philadelphia.

Their shots were already exciting — finally being able to get protected against COVID-19 was a big deal for the little ones, and their parents — but Friday’s clinic included a special guest: first lady Jill Biden.

“Parents, we do absolutely everything to protect our kids. And in this pandemic, our parents did a great job,” said Biden, a Willow Grove native who opened her remarks joking about her Philadelphia accent and reminiscing about visiting the city during the holiday season as a child. “Now I am so excited that parents have another way to keep your families safe: a vaccine for children 5 and up.”

She arrived in Philadelphia the day after President Joe Biden announced his winter COVID-19 plan, which includes opening more vaccination clinics aimed at families and creating Medicaid-funded vaccine counseling visits for parents.

As she joined several families in CHOP’s post-vaccination room, Biden shook hands and congratulated them on getting vaccinated.

“It was easy, right? And now it’s going to protect you,” Biden told 7-year-old twins Iyanuolwa and Ifoeluwa Adesina, squatting down to talk to the girls and their mother.

Another mother, Sharena Smith, proudly showed her own vaccination card to Biden, saying, “We are all vaccinated.” Bella Sophia Pritchett, 7, who had just received a shot, screamed “Oh my God!” when Biden walked in. She ran up waving, paused, and then flew into the first lady’s arms.

Four million children 5 to 11 have been vaccinated since their age group became eligible on Nov. 2, according to the White House, along with 15 million adolescents.

But after an initial rush of highly interested families, the demand for kids’ shots has slowed, and both federal and state officials are hoping to accelerate vaccinations. Generally, that means persuading parents, who can be hesitant about vaccinating their children even if they themselves are vaccinated.

In Pennsylvania, more than 99,000 5-to-9-year-olds have gotten their first dose, nearly 17% of that population. More than a quarter of those living in Montgomery and Chester Counties, which have the state’s highest rates, have done so. For 10-to-14-year-olds, a third have at least one dose, nearly 240,000 children. In Philadelphia, 11.5% of children 5 to 11, or more than 13,000, had had at least one shot as of Thursday.

And in New Jersey, 12% of kids 5 to 11 have gotten vaccinated, state health commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday.

“We have a lot of work to do in terms of vaccinating children at this stage,” Bettigole said Wednesday. “We’ve seen data for the last few months showing that parents were a little more hesitant to vaccinate their children in general than themselves.”

» READ MORE: You can get the COVID-19 vaccine for kids in Philly. Here’s where, and other things to know.

Bettigole said the city and community partners have crews out educating parents about the vaccine, particularly in neighborhoods with the lowest rates. The health department is also working with the school district.

The Philadelphia suburbs have vaccinated youths in numbers above the state average, with Montgomery County leading the state in all age categories.

In Chester County, which has one of the state’s top overall vaccination rates, health director Jeanne Franklin said they have also seen hesitancy even among vaccinated parents.

People hearing about the vaccine from a trusted messenger, whether a public health leader, a friend, or a doctor, is key to overcoming hesitancy, health officials say.

“What we know is parents trust their pediatricians, so they need that time to have that conversation,” Franklin said. “Some parents need one conversation. Some parents need more.”

» READ MORE: Younger kids in the Philly region are getting their COVID-19 vaccines, bringing long-awaited relief for parents

Shayla Durnell of West Chester had her two doses of Moderna months ago, but she wasn’t sure whether she was going to get her 5-year-old daughter, Anya Halteman, immunized.

But then, the weekend after Thanksgiving, she heard about the omicron variant.

On Thursday morning, she walked into the West Chester vaccine clinic, holding Anya’s hand.

“I just want to be protected as much as possible,” said Durnell, 40.

Mother and daughter both got shots: Durnell sat down for her Moderna booster, then knelt beside Anya. And though Anya cried behind her blue Frozen mask as she was injected, seconds later, she was grabbing a sticker and giving a thumbs-up.

Biden encouraged parents to get their boosters when taking children to be vaccinated.

Speaking as a teacher, a mother, and now “a nana” to her grandkids, Biden said she understood the “absolute terror” that parents feel as they try every day to protect their children.

“From that first day when you held that sweet, fragile little baby, you have made the choice again and again and again to keep your child safe,” she said. “Giving your child the COVID-19 vaccine is your choice, too.”

Staff writer Laura McCrystal contributed to this article.