SOME of Glenelg Shire’s youngest residents have been putting on their bravest faces as the coronavirus vaccination program is rolled out to their age group – and at Active Health Portland they’re getting plenty of help to make sure the experience is as pleasant as possible.

As the rollout began on Monday for vaccinations for the 5-11 age group, plenty of children have lined up already at the various clinics in the city and it has been no different at Active Health.

And there has been plenty to keep them occupied – with the therapy dogs taking centre stage.

They’ve made a big difference too – the clinic isn’t reverberating to the sounds of kids crying, but rather it’s a relatively quiet place as the dogs and kids interact while a needle goes in the arm of the latter, almost unnoticed.

“What we’re trying to do is just create a fun environment that children are relaxed in and I think the dogs do that,” said Ann Dunbar, the GP called out of retirement to oversee Active Health’s coronavirus vaccination program.

“It’s obviously important to get the children vaccinated both because of their transmission to other more vulnerable people and the fact that long COVID affects children just as much as it does adults – we need to protect them from the after effects of COVID.”

 Active Health’s special children’s clinics could also extend to Sundays if the demand was there.

“We’re considering running one then just because it might be more convenient for parents,” Dr Dunbar said.

“The idea is to get children vaccinated (at least one shot) before they go to school.”

And as more adults began to get their booster shots, there was less tension with those opposed to the vaccinations, Dr Dunbar said.

“The pressure has gone and we’re not having to face anti-vaxxers,” she said.

“There was a lot of pressure from them, they were aggressive, we were getting text messages and that sort of thing.

“We’ve got enough on our plates without having to deal with that. We’re here to facilitate vaccinations, not to argue with you.

“People who are getting boosters are people who have decided to be vaccinated.

“Generally speaking the children coming in are those whose parents are vaccinated.”

Dr Dunbar said the vaccines for children were of a much lower dose than the ones for adults.