Saturday mornings were traditionally the time for superhero cartoons; this Saturday, children can get vaccinated – and meet a superhero at the AIS Arena COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic.

Saturday is for any five- to 11-year-old children who have “put up their shield” to being vaccinated, explained Jessie Holberton, Assistant Director of Nursing, COVID-19 Services – testing and vaccination at Canberra Health Services.

“We want to keep them as safe as possible,” Ms Holberton said. “We want to make sure that if they do catch COVID, that their symptoms are mild, that they’re not spreading it as much, and to just keep everyone safe so we can return to doing more things as a community.”

Nurses and support staff will dress up as their favourite superheroes all Saturday to encourage children to get their first Pfizer dose. There will be kid-friendly activities, fun, and mascots.

Children and their parents or guardians (of the galaxy) are invited to dress up for the occasion, and may bring along a drawing of their favourite superhero (or everyday hero) to share on the Heroboard, too.

Special visitors to the clinic between 9am and 5pm on Saturday will welcome the children on arrival, and make them feel more at ease. They could run into Canberra Hospital Foundation mascot Hearty, characters from Paw Patrol, or Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Inside the clinic, Captain Starlight from the Starlight Children’s Foundation will deliver some improvised play, fun, laughter, and distraction.

Canberra Health Services also has hundreds of Busy Nippers Kids Activity packs to give away.

AIS Arena mass vaccination clinic, Saturday 12 February 9am – 5pm. To book, call the ACT COVID-19 vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700.