BOSTON — Therapy dogs helped to take the sting out of the shot in the arm for hundreds of Ashland and Holliston students. 600 kids ages 5-11 showed up for their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at Ashland High School on Wednesday night.
Twelve therapy dogs, from local MetroWest police departments and the State Police Barracks, made the rounds for more than four hours. Kids who were nervous about needles said the dogs did a good job at keeping them calm.
“If we have a kid who’s really struggling, we bring the comfort dog over, and they can hold the dog with the arm they’re going to get the shot in,” said Ashland Sgt. Ed Burman, the community’s COVID-19 Task Force lead.
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Burman said the vaccine clinic was set up with no waiting and several activities to keep it moving.
Nurses from various schools in Ashland and Holliston staffed the vaccine stations.
“It hurt a little, but after that when you get candy and you can pet the dogs, it’s really good,” said 9-year-old Asher Brown.
Parents who brought their children to the clinic told Boston 25 News they are relieved that their kids will be considered fully vaccinated in two weeks.
“It will feel good to get together with family after this. We’ll wait two weeks and make sure we feel safe,” said mother Meaghan Alexis. “There’s a lot less stress than there was last year to see grandparents and out-of-town family.”
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The CDC approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last month for children ages 5 to 11 years old. That expanded vaccine recommendation impacts about 28 million children in the United States in this age group.
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