Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe for children? what parents should know

Experts advising the FDA on October 26 recommended that the vaccine be allowed for children ages 5 to 11, concluding that the benefits of the shot outweigh any risks.

The Pfizer-BioNTech shot has been authorized for people 16 years and older since December, and since May has been approved for people 12 years and older. Here’s what you need to know about Covid-19 vaccines and kids:

When will kids get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 67% of people 12 years of age and older in the US have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Some older people and those with compromised immune systems or otherwise at high risk have also begun to receive booster shots.

Vaccination in children ages 5 to 11 can begin within a week if the CDC signs off on and issues guidance on the use of the vaccine in children next week.

Children will be given two shots at three-week intervals, the same schedule as adults and teens, although each shot will contain one-third of the dose.

Pfizer and BioNTech are studying their vaccine in children aged 6 months to 5 years and have said results could come as early as 2022.

Do we need to vaccinate children?

Yes, according to most infectious disease experts. Children can and do get sick from Covid-19, although research shows they usually experience mild cases and are much less likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus than adults and the elderly. Is. Some hospitals across the country reported treating more children this summer than ever before, which the CDC said reflects the wide spread of the highly contagious Delta variant across much of the country.

In addition, scientists say children need to be vaccinated to gain community, or herd, immunity that reduces the chances of the virus spreading. Lisa Costello, pediatrician and president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said, “Vaccines give us an opportunity to really turn the tide on this pandemic, and kids and teens really need to be part of that strategy.” “

How effective is the vaccine?

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech released new data on October 22 showing that the vaccine was 90.7% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in a study on children aged 5 to 11 years. The companies also said that the vaccine was safe during the trial.

A review of data by FDA staff found that the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNtech met the agency’s criteria for immune response in a study of children ages 5 to 11.

Authorized for emergency use in children 12 to 15 years of age and fully approved for anyone 16 years of age and older—the companies vaccine—also the only vaccine to protect children 12 years of age and older has proven effective. The CDC reported in October that the vaccine was 93% effective against being hospitalized with Covid-19 in 12 to 18-year-olds.

In October the Biden administration said it would make Covid-19 vaccines available to children ages 5 to 11 in more than 25,000 pediatric offices and primary care sites and pharmacies and schools, should it be approved by federal regulators.

The Biden administration said it has purchased enough doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine to vaccinate the nation’s children. Pfizer was set to begin shipping doses on October 30. Children can start getting vaccinated after the CDC indicates.

Moderna Inc., which is seeking authorization to extend the use of its shots to ages 12 and older, has said its Covid-19 vaccine was generally safe and has been tested for more than 6 years in clinical trials. used to induce the desired immune response in 11-year-olds.

Will vaccinations be required for school?

CDC urges all school staff and eligible students to get vaccinated before the school year. Some universities are requiring students to be vaccinated when they return to campus this fall, and school districts, including New York City, are requiring teachers and staff to receive the shots. Most school districts in the country already require students to receive vaccinations for mumps, measles and rubella, as well as polio, diphtheria and chickenpox, although many districts with pre-existing health problems or mandate conflicting religious beliefs. Discounts are given to the students. Noel Elerson Ng, Associate Director of Advocacy and Governance, said, “If you’re in a district that already has a lot of vaccine requirements, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that the Covid-19 vaccine is just in line with those others.” Is.” AASA, the Association of School Superintendents, is a national umbrella group representing school districts. Some other school experts say some districts may require Covid-19 vaccinations for just a year or two, until the pandemic is over.

What are the Covid-19 symptoms of children?

According to the CDC, the symptoms for children are the same as for adults. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, loss of taste or smell, and headache. Doctors are also investigating links between Covid-19 and a rare inflammatory condition that causes abdominal pain, skin rashes and high fever. Doctors and public-health experts say they hope children will be vaccinated, part of the reason they can carry and transmit the virus even when they show no symptoms.

Are there any risks to children from the vaccine?

Doctors and vaccine experts say any vaccine comes with the risk of an adverse reaction, and Covid-19 shots are no different. So far, however, researchers have found no evidence that vaccines pose any additional or separate risks for children versus adults. According to the CDC, the most common side effects of the vaccine are flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle aches and chills. Many recipients also experience pain or bruising in the arm after receiving the shot.

In extremely rare cases, people who have received a Covid-19 vaccine have experienced severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis related to the chemicals that help package the main ingredient in Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna Vaccines, A compound called mRNA.

Experts advising the CDC have said there appears to be an association between mRNA vaccines and a rare inflammatory heart condition called myocarditis in some young people, including young adults.

The CDC and other health officials still recommend a Covid-19 vaccination for those 12 years of age and older, given the increased risk from Covid-19, which itself can cause myocarditis and other complications.

The FDA, reviewing Pfizer-BioNTech data, flagged an increased risk of heart-inflammatory conditions such as myocarditis in children aged 5 to 11, but said there was an overall benefit in preventing Covid-19 disease and hospitalization. The risk of heart conditions will be higher.

No cases of myocarditis were found in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine major study in children aged 5 to 11 years, although the study was deemed too small to detect a potential risk.

Citing the risk of myocarditis, Norway advises that Moderna vaccine should not be given to all people under the age of 18, even if they have already received a dose, and recommends that those under 30 years of age Men should consider getting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine instead. Norwegian officials cited US, Canadian and Nordic data to say the absolute risk is low and called the advice a precautionary measure.

Studies indicate that vaccines pose no safety risk to expectant mothers or their unborn babies, and that expectant mothers can pass immune-boosting antibodies to their fetuses after receiving the shots. “Some parents will be worried about this” [Pfizer] Vaccines because it’s a new technology, but that means a lot more needs to be educated on the subject,” said Peter Hotez, a pediatrician and virology specialist at Baylor University. “The safety profile looks the same for children as it does. Does it for adults.”

—Sabrina Siddiqui contributed to this article.

(This story has been published without modification in text from a wire agency feed)