The Food and Drug Administration expanded its accreditation to the emergency use of the Pfizer-Bioentec Kovit-19 vaccine to include adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses it after their advisory board meeting on May 12, with recommendations made after the age group. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports this conclusion. Here Dr. Shirley shares some of the parents’ concerns about their teens or teenagers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
1. Do vaccines work kids and COVID-19 vaccines
Yes, Pfizer-Bioendec’s recently released data suggests that the COVID-19 vaccine works well in this age group. Clinical trials in US children between the ages of 12 and 15 have found the COVID-19 vaccine to be 100 percent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19. Adolescents produced higher levels of antibodies in response to the vaccine, and their resistance response was as strong as that found in older adolescents and children between 16 and 25 years of age.
2. How do I know that the vaccine is safe for my child?
Until now, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and well tolerated in adolescence. The us All COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the US are subject to rigorous analysis, but we do not want to assume that children are young adults. This is why it is so important to carefully study these vaccines in children. Current studies will continue to closely follow vaccinated children and strong safety monitoring will help to quickly identify rare or unexpected concerns if they arise.
3. I felt that children are at low risk – should they still be vaccinated?
Currently, children make up about a quarter of the newly reported weekly COVID-19 cases in the United States. Although severe illness from COVID-19 is rare in children, it does occur – thousands of children are hospitalized in the United States and at least 351 children have died from COVID-19. Some children who are seriously ill with COVID-19 may have basic health conditions, but not all. Vaccines can help protect children from serious illness.
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Furthermore, because adolescents may transmit COVID-19 to others, child immunization may prove to be an important component of safe return to normal life activities, including individual schooling and participation. Spend time in group games and with friends. A large survey of school-age children showed that low or low levels of physical activity and poor personal contact with friends were reported in full or partial virtual schools.
Mental and emotional health compared to those receiving full personal education. Children are experiencing unprecedented increases in indirect adverse health and educational effects associated with infection, and we need to find ways to quickly and safely return to normal life. The vaccine is one of them.
4. What can I expect for my child?
Serious side effects may occur after vaccination. The most commonly reported side effects are pain and swelling at the injection site. Fatigue and headache are other common side effects. Like adult children, some teens experience fever, chills, muscle aches, and joint pain, which may be more common after the second dose. However, these effects are short-lived, and most will resolve within one to two days.
Some youth may experience dizziness while taking injections. If this is a concern for your child, let your vaccination management area know in advance – to avoid injury you can vaccinate your child while sitting or lying down.
5. Did the children have a serious reaction?
The Pfizer – Bioendec clinical trial revealed no significant side effects associated with the vaccine. Severe allergic reactions are rarely reported in the elderly. The vaccine should not be vaccinated for any known acute or immediate allergy to the vaccine or any component of the vaccine. If your child has any severe allergic or immediate allergic reaction to a vaccine or injection, notify the vaccination site administrator to monitor your child for at least 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine. .
Parents should talk to a trusted health or allergy care provider if their child has specific questions about an allergic reaction.
6. When will the COVID-19 vaccine be approved for children under 12 years of age?
The companies have started or are planning to test COVID-19 vaccines in young children. Acceptable age recommendations may change when a lot of information is available. Children between the ages of 2 to 11 are eligible by the end of this year.
7. Even if I have been vaccinated, if my child does not, can I still give them the virus?
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain direct viruses, so they cannot cause COVID-19. Instead, the vaccine can help protect you and your children from COVID-19. Studies show that pregnant and lactating mothers vaccinated can pass the placenta during breastfeeding and protective immunity to their young children – another benefit of the vaccine.
Although researchers are still learning how to help prevent the spread of vaccines, vaccines are an important way of controlling infections in young children who are still unsuitable for vaccination.
