Almost a week after receiving federal approval, thousands of New York children ages 5 to 11 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The phones have not stopped ringing,” Dr. Michale Looney of Delmar Pediatrics said last week.

Pediatricians are booked, but Saratoga County health officials helped alleviate some of the pressure.

“It’s a day we thought we’d never see,” said Nicole Hollner, a mom living in Saratoga County. “But it’s finally here. We’re super excited.”

The county launched its first vaccine clinic for children Tuesday.

“I think I got the text yesterday, so we jumped on it,” said Angela DeMeritt, who brought her son to be vaccinated.

County officials say there were 100 appointments available Tuesday. They were booked within about 10 minutes of being announced.

“He’s just a routine child, and COVID just threw all that up in the air,” said Hollner.

She has two boys, one with autism. She’s hopeful the vaccine will help reestablish a routine between home and school. It also means more family time.

“My mother and their great-grandmother are both battling cancer right now,” she said. “So, it’s important for them to maintain a relationship with them and not bring added worry to an already stressful situation.”

For Jennifer Price, the decision to get the youngest member of her family vaccinated against COVID-19 was a no brainer.

“My husband is a doctor. So I defer to him for all medical decisions,” she said. “Obviously, we didn’t hesitate when the vaccine became available for us. I have older children, and we didn’t hesitate at all when it became available for them.”

Parents recognized that not all are on board.

“It’s not the situation for everybody, but it is ours,” said Hollner. “It works for us. One more step to a normal life.”

The county continues to host clinics for seniors over the age of 65, and there will be more for children in the coming days and weeks.