Kristina Cherep (left) of Valparaiso gives her opinion about her children receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as she plays with her daughter JoAnn Cherep, 8 months, (center) and son Charlie, 3, (right) at the Central Park Plaza splash pad in Valparaiso on Thursday, June 23, 2022. (John Smierciak/Post Tribune) (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Kristina Cherep slathered sunscreen on daughter Joanna, 8 months, and adjusted her hat while big brother Charlie, 3 next month, frolicked in the splash pad at Central Park Plaza in downtown Valparaiso, slowing down only when he had trouble keeping his swim trunks up.

With the recent rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months to 5 years old, both of Cherep’s kids are now eligible for the vaccine.

“I’m not sure. I’ll probably talk to their doctors first and see what they think because I trust their knowledge,” Cherep, a children’s author living in Valparaiso, said Thursday while she and other families took advantage of the weather.

Cherep said she’s not opposed to getting the vaccine for her children, she just wants to wait until after its initial rollout.

Abigail Ibrahim of Valparaiso, (left) gives her opinion about her children receiving the COVID-19. Ibrahim sits with her son Gunnar 3, at the Central Park Plaza splash pad in Valparaiso on Thursday, June 23, 2022. (John Smierciak/Post Tribune) (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

The Food and Drug Administration approved the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines on June 17 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending them the following day.

Local officials said approval of the vaccine is one in an ongoing series of steps towards returning to normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while some parents are fully onboard, others want more information before taking their children in for the vaccine.

So far, five children under age 5 in Lake County and five children in Porter County have received the vaccine, according to the Indiana State Department of Health COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, last updated Friday afternoon.

The Porter County Health Department received pediatric formulations of Moderna and Pfizer shortly after they were approved, said Sheila Paul, the department’s administrator.

“Public response has been so robust that we are adding additional clinics to accommodate demand,” Paul said in an email, adding the department is confident its vaccine supply is adequate to keep up.

“Providing COVID vaccine for this population completes the last gap in offering protection for all ages. All children, including children who have already had COVID-19, should get vaccinated,” she added. “Offering the pediatric COVID vaccine is an important step forward in our fight against the virus.”

Karen Lieske of Valparaiso (left) gives her opinion about her children receiving the COVID-19 vaccine as she plays with her daughter Kate, 19 months, (right) at the Central Park Plaza splash pad in Valparaiso on Thursday, June 23, 2022. (John Smierciak/Post Tribune) (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

The pediatric Moderna series requires two doses while the Pfizer series is three doses.

“We are committed to taking the necessary steps to keep schools open for in-person learning. For families wanting to pursue a vaccine for their children, we hope this provides an additional layer of safety and/or peace of mind,” said Chip Pettit, of the Duneland School Corporation.

The new vaccine availability is particularly important for childcare and preschool facilities, like Hilltop Neighborhood House in Valparaiso.

Prior to this, the facility only had two or three children who were eligible for the vaccine, said Amy Osburn, vice president of Hilltop House.

“For us, I feel like it gives us a little more bit of freedom,” Osburn said.

Charlie Cherep, 2, plays in the water at the Central Park Plaza splash pad in Valparaiso on Thursday, June 23, 2022. (John Smierciak/Post Tribune) (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Young children have less severe symptoms with COVID-19 and lower hospital rates than other age groups, she said, though that has its own set of challenges. Because the symptoms aren’t as severe, Osburn added, they are passed off as allergies or a cold and turn out to be COVID-19.

All of the staff at Hilltop, which can serve a maximum of 76 children, are vaccinated, and children’s ability to get the vaccine is going to give staff a greater sense of security as well, she said.

Unless the state requires the vaccine for children in the program, Hilltop will leave it up to parents to decide what they want to do, Osburn said, and will work to educate parents on the vaccine.

Personally, as the mother of two young children, including one with respiratory health issues, Osburn said she is excited about the new vaccine.

Back at the splash pad at Central Park Plaza, Abigail Ibrahim said she is vaccinated and works as a lab tech at a local hospital but is holding off for now on a vaccine for son Gunnar, 3, who starts preschool in August.

“I understand the science behind it for adults but children especially, they’re entirely different,” the Valparaiso mom said, noting children’s metabolism and constant growth. “I’m not really sure. I would have to see more studies about how it’s going to affect them.”

Charlie Cherep, 2, plays in the water at the Central Park Plaza splash pad in Valparaiso on Thursday, June 23, 2022. (John Smierciak/Post Tribune) (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Mom Karen “Mo” Lieske, meanwhile, said she plans on calling the doctor’s office for daughter Kate, 18 months, in the coming days. Her older son Jaymes turned 5 in February and was fully vaccinated by the end of March.

“For us, it was never really a question. It just needed to be approved,” said Lieske, of Valparaiso, who is an echocardiogram tech. “I’m very grateful for the families who agreed to be the initial recipients.”

More information about the pediatric COVID vaccine can be found at

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html.