The youngest person in Sarnia to get vaccinated against COVID-19 said she's excited to be one step closer to seeing her friends again.
Twelve-year-old Emma Ritchie received her first COVID-19 vaccine dose this week. She said at first, she was a little nervous to get the shot but ultimately, "it was fine."
"Now once COVID is gone I can play with my friends," she said.
Emma said the nurses and paramedics at the vaccine clinic were great. Her advice to others who go for their vaccine is to bring something with them for the wait. Emma waited at the clinic for 15 minutes after getting her shot and in that time, she read some pages from a book.
The Grade 7 student attends St. Anne Catholic Elementary School, however, she has been learning from home since the beginning of the pandemic. She said the experience has been somewhat "chaotic" as she also helps her two younger siblings with homeschooling as well.
"I work half of the day by myself and the other half is either playing outside or helping my siblings with their school [work]," said Emma.
She said she misses many of her friends from school as it has been 14.5 months since she last saw them.
In addition to missing her friends from St. Anne, Emma is also missing her friends south of the border. Her family moved to Sarnia about four years ago from Atlanta, Georgia.
Emma's mother, Andrea Ritchie, said they live in a multigenerational family in a high-risk household. Her hope is that other children Emma's age will be encouraged to get their shot.
"Part of a community is looking after not just you and your household, it's looking out for everybody in the community," said Ritchie. "It's been hard. People have lost jobs and people have been sick and you have to remember that even though your house might be okay, [others] might not be."
Ritchie said she and her daughter went out for ice cream after Emma got her shot to mark the occasion. Her advice for other parents is to try to make the vaccination experience as fun as possible.
"Go get vaccinated, go for ice cream afterward, go for a bike ride, make it fun!" she said.
Emma was also given a kayak for getting through her first full year of online schooling. She also looks forward to going to the Sarnia Yacht Club soon.
Lambton Public Health expanded vaccine eligibility to younger individuals earlier this week. Children 12 and up can book their vaccination appointment at the Point Edward mass immunization clinic.
An end-of-year gift. Emma with her two siblings Ethan and Julia. (Submitted photo).