Welcome back to Wednesday's with Dr. Haas! This is a segment where you can ask questions about your top COVID-19 health concerns and Dr. Haas, our resident health expert (and a world-renowned Infectious Disease Doctor) answers them! Today, we are answering questions about the vaccine for children, and are referencing the resources put together by PublicHealthCollaborative.org.
The Summary: While children and adolescents are considered at lower risk for severe COVID-19, COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death, and tens of thousands of children and teens have been hospitalized because of the virus. Vaccinating your children (6 months or older) is a safe way to reduce the risk associated with COVID-19, and be done at the same time they receive their routine vaccines, such as the flu vaccine.
Question: What are the current recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for children?
Answer: As of June 18, 2022, the CDC recommends that children age 6 months and older get a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Children age 5 and older who receive the Pfizer vaccine should get a booster at least 5 months after their second shot.
Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization
Children age 6 months through 4 years old receive a three-shot series, with two doses spaced three weeks apart and followed by a third at least two months later. The dosage is one-tenth the adult dosage.
Children age 5 to 11 receive a two-shot series spaced three weeks apart. The dosage is one-third the adult dosage. This age group should also get a booster dose at least five months after their second shot.
Children age 12 to 17 receive a two-shot series spaced three weeks apart. The dosage is the same as the adult dosage. This age group should also get a booster dose at least five months after their second shot.
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization
Children age 6 months through 5 years old receive a two-shot series, with two doses spaced four weeks apart. The dosage is one-quarter of the adult dosage.
Children age 6 to 11 receive a two-shot series, with two doses spaced four weeks apart. The dosage is half the adult dosage.
Children age 12 to 17 receive a two-shot series, with two doses spaced four weeks apart. The dosage is the same as the dosage for adults.
Question: Is the vaccine safe for my child?
Answer: Yes! Scientists and doctors have thoroughly reviewed the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines for children. As of this post, millions of children have received the vaccine safely.
Question: Why did it take so long for the FDA to approve the vaccine for children?
Answer: The COVID-19 vaccine was throughly reviewed before being administered to children. Clinical trials were not started for children until all trials for adults proved to be safe and effective. An additional review process was put in place to determine the effective dosage and series for children under five.
The FDA waited to receive additional findings from clinical trials to ensure that its recommendation was based on a substantial amount of clinical data.
Question: Will my child experience side effects? I've heard about myocarditis.
Answer: Side effects are typically mild - tiredness, headaches, or slight fevers - and go away in a couple of days. The risk of more severe reactions are very low, and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) is rare complication. The risk of developing myocarditis after a COVID-19 infection is much higher than after receiving the vaccine.
Thank you for reading this edition of Wednesday's with Dr. Haas. Feel free to comment here with more questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for Children!