COVID-19 May 2021 Update: Vaccines for Kids
It has been over two months since I last posted an update on the virus and its impact on our society, along with the vaccines to combat it. One reason is that information has been acquired so quickly, that when I go to write on the topic, the data and stats have changed! So here it goes with as good of an update as I can give at this time.
As many of you know, states and cities are “opening up” in terms of relieving restrictions on activities that are allowed. This is in response to the good news that cases and deaths are dropping across the country, although there are exceptions (Michigan and Florida have the most new cases). But overall, the declines are encouraging and can be due to only one thing: vaccinations. On a more somber note, many health experts in infectious disease and epidemiology caution that the new variants may cause increases as the summer months approach. That would be a huge blow to the country, as it would be very discouraging to have the decreases we have seen wiped out by a new variant. This is why it is so important for all of us to get vaccinated as soon as possible to avoid further spread, which in and of itself is the reason the variants have appeared in the first place.
Vaccinations and Children
Three weeks ago, Pfizer provided to the FDA its data on vaccination in kids ages 12-15 years of age. This week, the FDA announced that it may soon (within 1-2 weeks) grant Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for kids in this age range. And in addition, both Pfizer and Moderna have active trials in place for children 6 months to 12 years of age, and data from those trials will be presented to the FDA in a few months. In fact, Pfizer has indicated it may apply for Emergency Use Authorization for younger children as soon as September.
Many parents have asked me if I would recommend the vaccine for children in my practice. If it is shown by the data to be SAFE and EFFECTIVE then the answers is easy, and the answer is yes. Notice that SAFE is the first word in that statement. Once we have safety proven, if effectiveness is shown then it is a no-brainer. So far, in adults, the only side effects shown is an allergic reaction, occurring in about 2.5 to 11 in 1,000,000 people. Pretty rare if you ask me. So, if the data warrants safety and efficacy, then I strongly recommend you consider giving this to your kid.
At this time, we do not know if we will be able to give the vaccine in our office. I am looking into this at the time of this writing.
In the meantime, please continue to mask when indoors (and not at home), keep your distance from those unmasked, wash your hands, and if 16 years of age and above, get the vaccine. The new CDC guidelines approve of families and friends who are all vaccinated gathering, and those guidelines are available at CDC.GOV.
