Aurelia McCasland, 6, gets her COVID-19 vaccine from Jennifer McGuoirk, a nurse at Adirondack Health, at a children’s vaccine clinic the hospital held on Saturday. McCasland’s father Jeremy said she didn’t flinch at all when she got her shot. (Enterprise photo — Jeremy McCasland)

SARANAC LAKE — Aurelia McCasland, 6, and Serenity Topping, 10, were excited to get their COVID-19 vaccinations on Saturday, even if they were a bit nervous about the needle.

Adirondack Health, the Saranac Lake Central School District and Hudson Headwaters Health Network collaborated for a pediatric vaccine clinic held at the hospital in Saranac Lake on Saturday, now that children 5 years and older can get the vaccine.

Another children’s vaccine clinic will be held this Saturday at Petrova Elementary School, 141 Petrova Ave.

Unlike all the other shots Aurelia and Serenity have gotten in their lives before, they had a choice to get this vaccine, and took it immediately.

Their dad, Jeremy McCasland, said they were asking him for months when they’d be able to get vaccinated, and they knew that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer vaccine for children 5 and up even before he did.

“I don’t want to end up getting COVID,” Topping said.

She said she hopes that by getting vaccinated, she’ll eventually get to take her mask off more often.

“It was actually not that painful,” Aurelia said on Sunday.

Jeremy said she didn’t flinch at all when she got her shot.

Aurelia said she tripped and hurt her knee later in the day — and that hurt more.

Topping said she was worried about the shot, and “stressed” going into the clinic, but she was happy to get it.

“I don’t like shots,” Topping said.

But she braved it out, and on Sunday, was more than excited to talk all about her experience. She said she’ll be ready to get her second dose in December.

The sisters were glad they’ll be fully vaccinated before Christmas.

Aurelia and Serenity jumped around on Sunday as they talked about their big day — they saw teachers at the clinic with their children, they watched Peppa Pig and Spongebob Squarepants as they waited for 15 minutes after getting the vaccine, and the nurses handed them tons of treats — popcorn, apples donuts holes and lollipops.

They kept their arms moving all day so they wouldn’t get sore, and on Sunday said they could only feel the spot where they got their shots if they pressed on it.

Jeremy said he was impressed with the clinic.

“Clinic was well-suited for the age groups,” he wrote in an email. “They had juice, snacks, popcorn, movies, lollipops and even gift bags if needed.”

Some children needed a distraction with a toy or gadget to get their shot. Jeremy was also impressed with the children who showed up to get their inoculations.

“Most kids did great,” he wrote. “Some teared up a little, but for the most part, very little crying.

“There was more drama than when we went with the adults,” he added.