COVID numbers have been ticking back up, just as many families are planning to travel and gather at parks, pools and backyards for summertime fun. Fortunately, this timing also coincides with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine for kids under age 5.
Many caregivers have been anxiously awaiting this announcement, while some still have a few questions. If you’re in the latter group, Dr. Suzanne Lavoie, infectious diseases specialist, offers some insight and encouragement.
Kids have been getting sick from COVID-19, with some requiring care in the hospital. Omicron has been especially hard on little ones. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids under 5 were hospitalized during the omicron wave at five times the rate they were during the previous peak of the pandemic.
The vaccine is the best way to prevent severe illness. It’s also critical in helping to stop the spread of the virus and prevent new–and potentially more dangerous–variants from emerging.
The development of safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines has been a top priority for researchers and built upon significant prior experience working with other coronaviruses. This vaccine, like all vaccines, has gone through a rigorous series of trials to earn its EUA. EUAs are granted for specific age groups only once the vaccines have proved to be safe and effective for them.
Pfizer’s clinical trials included more than 1,600 children in the 6-month to 5-year age group and the three-dose series had a safety profile similar to the placebo.
Kids under age 5 receive a series of three shots, with a dosage of three micrograms per shot. The first two doses are given three weeks apart, followed by the third a least two months later.
Children ages 5-11 have been given 10 micrograms per shot in a series of two doses, with a booster recently approved for this age group. People 12 years and older receive 30-microgram doses. The progressively smaller doses for the younger age groups were determined to provide the best balance between safety and immunogenicity–or ability to cause a protective immune response.
Pfizer initially proposed a two-dose series for kids ages 6 months to 5 years but conducted further studies when it proved only 30-40% effective in preschoolers. Preliminary clinical trial results showed the three-dose regimen was 80% effective at preventing illness in this youngest population during the omicron outbreak.
While there have been reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) following COVID vaccinations in the older age groups, it’s important to note a few things:
There is no peer-reviewed evidence that the COVID vaccine–or any vaccine–affects fertility. The COVID vaccine triggers a response in the immune system but doesn’t interact with the body’s DNA or have any hormonal properties that would cause it to impact fertility.
The CDC says it’s safe to get the COVID vaccines at the same time as other immunizations, including the flu shot. Data from other vaccines show that the way our bodies develop protection is similar whether vaccines are given alone or with other vaccines. Side effects are similar too.
If you’d prefer to stagger your child’s COVID and other vaccines, that’s okay! The most important thing is that they get them in a timely manner.
Yes. There will be some natural immunity from having COVID, but it doesn’t last forever. The CDC recommends vaccination for people who have had and recovered from COVID-19 in the past as an extra layer to protect from getting it again, and potentially more severely than before.
COVID vaccines are available at no cost at health care providers and pharmacies throughout the community. The best approach is to check with your child’s pediatrician or primary care provider for information about availability. If your child is a CHoR patient, call (804) 828-CHOR (2467) to schedule a vaccine appointment.
If you have specific questions about your child’s health and the COVID vaccine, talk with their pediatrician or primary care provider. They’re equipped to help you make the decisions that are best for your family.
Download an informational and fun vaccine coloring sheet
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