RALEIGH, N.C. — Felicia Byrd's family hasn't left the house since last week.

"At first we thought it was just because we had that heat wave, and so we thought she was just hot and tired 'cause the heat was drying her. And then it was like 3 o'clock in the morning, and she was hot, and I saw her shaking, and I was like, 'oh no,'" she said.

After more than two years, children 6 months and older can finally get vaccinated against coronavirus

The NCDHHS says the first wave of vaccine shipments arrived Monday

The CDC recommends all children who are eligible get the COVID-19 vaccine

Byrd's 5-year-old daughter, Elexandria (who goes by Tootie) caught COVID-19 last week.

Byrd says she was devastated, especially because her family is usually so cautious. That's until she took a chance last week by taking the kids to a water park.

"I was sitting in the emergency room with my son, and he was all giggles and smiles. And my daughter, she's laying in the bed, and she's asleep 'cause she's so exhausted. And I hate to say it, but my brain went there, and I thought I could really wake up, and it could just be me and my son. And I don't know if I could handle that," Byrd said.

Thankfully, Byrd says her daughter only had mild symptoms. Although explaining what quarantine meant to her young kids, she says, was a challenge.

"My child is lonely. This is the first time I've had to actually physically separate her from her brother. And she's been away from him for so long, and they can't do their meals together. They can't watch TV together," she said."My child is lonely. This is the first time I've had to actually physically separate her from her brother. And she's been away from him for so long, and they can't do their meals together. They can't watch TV together," she said.

It's a long time coming, but Byrd is thrilled the coronavirus vaccine is now available for her youngest. 

She understands it's a decision that may differ from parent to parent. However, when it comes to the safety of her family, Byrd says getting her kids vaccinated is a no-brainer.

"You want to control what you can control, and you want to do everything you can for that child. You're going to take a drastic measure before it happens or you're going to take a drastic measure after it happens. It just depends on when you're going to do it," Byrd said.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says it has more than 367 providers across 100 counties who are signed up to receive and administer the vaccine.

The state has pre-ordered 118,600 doses of the vaccine to be distributed statewide.

Spectrum News 1 also spoke with a pediatrician about the vaccine and how effective it is for young children.

Dr. Lori Langdon says she absolutely recommends children 6 months and older get vaccinated and feels many families will breathe a sigh of relief knowing their whole family will be protected.

She says roughly 18 million children are eligible to be vaccinated.

"When we look at the impact of COVID for children under the age of 5, it's responsible for more infections, hospitalizations and complications than any other vaccine preventable disease in the United States," Langdon said.

The N.C. DHHS says children between the ages of 3 and 5 can get vaccinated at a pharmacy or grocery store, aside from a doctor's office or local health care provider.

However, children 3 years and under cannot be vaccinated by a pharmacist.