‘I want the vaccine for my birthday’: Boy of man killed by Covid gets vaccine to mark turning 12
Family say getting vaccinated ‘the only way out of the pandemic’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A 12-year-old boy from New Jersey has been vaccinated against Covid after asking for the jab as a present in the aftermath of his father’s death from the virus last year.
Gavin Roberts, who celebrated his 12th birthday on Sunday, had repeatedly asked his mother, Alice Roberts, for the vaccine after the death of his father Charles Roberts from Covid.
Mr Roberts, who was 45 years-old at the time of his death, had been a police officer with the Glen Ridge Police Department when he caught the virus and died. There were no vaccines available at the time.
Ms Roberts said her husband had been healthy and took the pandemic “very seriously” before collapsing and being taken to hospital, where he died on 11 May 2020.
She said of their son, Gavinn: "I kept asking him what he wanted for his birthday, [and] He was always saying it's the vaccine, we're going to get that."
CDC panel tackles who needs booster shot of COVID vaccineDeSantis switches Florida to surgeon general who backs his anti-mask, vaxx mandate views
CDC finds unvaccinated 11 times more likely to die of COVID
United Airlines say 97% of US employees have been vaccinated
The Latest: UN chief welcomes US vaccine donation to COVAX
The school teacher also told NBC New York that when vaccines did become available for herself and Gavin’s two older sisters, all of her family all got jabs because it was “the only way out of the pandemic”.
"Throughout this whole experience, we’ve felt that if we can turn a really sad, horrible moment in our lives into something that can help people we want to do that," Ms Roberts said.
Gavin told the network that “he hoped people just learn that its very hard to go through”, when you lose a family member from Covid, and that he hoped people saw that it was preventable with the vaccine.
“By seeing us, hopefully it personalises it for people and it’s a real thing and it really happened to us. We’re not paid actors. It really happened and it can happen to anyone,” Ms Roberts added.
In a opinion piece for NJ.com, she criticised some first responders and law enforcement who were most at risk from Covid, but who were “not vaccinated and are against the mandates”.
It comes after US President Joe Biden announced a mandate for employers with more than 100 staff to ask workers for proof of vaccination against Covid.
Children aged below 12, meanwhile, will soon be approved for a vaccine, manufacturer Pfizer said on Monday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments