Like many parents, youre eager to get your kids vaccinated against COVID-19. But that doesnt mean you dont have questions starting with when exactly your younger children will even be eligible.
Fortunately, the time may finally be coming for some parents.
On Oct. 7, Pfizer asked the FDA to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11.
In the meantime, heres what you need to know as you prepare to get your child vaccinated.
The FDA is tentatively scheduled to meet about extending Pfizer EUA to children ages 5 to 11 on Oct. 26, and the CDC is tentatively expected to meet about this on Nov. 2-3.
Only after both agencies make their formal decisions and recommendations will children within this age group be eligible for vaccination. Right now, it looks like that could happen in early-to-mid November, says Dr. Drews.
For now, the only COVID-19 vaccine being considered for kids is Pfizers mRNA vaccine. Moderna is also examining the safety and effectiveness of its vaccine in adolescents, but this trial is still ongoing.
In addition, parents of children under the age of 5 will have to wait a bit longer before their children are eligible for vaccination. Pfizer is expected to have trial data for this age group ready for FDA and CDC review at the end of 2021, adds Dr. Drews.
Similar to adults and teens, Pfizer has developed its vaccine for children to be administered as two doses given three weeks apart via an intramuscular injection, says Dr. Drews.
With the holidays right around the corner Thanksgiving, in particular be sure to consider your plans when scheduling your childs first shot.
After their second dose, it will take another two weeks for your childs immune system to complete its work of building immunity, adds Dr. Drews. This is also important to keep in mind as you consider whether its safe to travel or see vulnerable loved ones this holiday season.
Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 is expected to be a smaller dose one-third the amount in the vaccine for adults and adolescents, in fact. While adults and teens receive a 30-microgram dose, the dosage for kids will be 10 micrograms.
Children have very active immune systems, so its unsurprising that a smaller dosage is still able to induce a protective immune response, explains Dr. Drews.
Pfizer has indicated that, at this smaller dosage, data show that the vaccine is both safe and effective in kids, mounting a similar antibody response to whats seen in adults with a similar side effect profile.
Pfizers clinical trial data has only been made available to the FDA and CDC for now, butthe company stated in a recent press releasethat the side effects for kids ages 5 to 11 are comparable to those seen in teens and young adults ages 16 to 25.
The most common side effects of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine are:
If youre worried about side effects, reactions or just have general concerns about vaccinating your child, consult your pediatrician. He or she can help you understand the benefits and risks, recommends Dr. Drews.
As flu season ramps up, you may be wondering if its safe for your child to be vaccinated for both the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
It is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine with most other pediatric immunizations, including your childs annual flu shot. The exception to this is with the chicken pox and measles vaccines. These will need to be given several weeks before or after the COVID-19 vaccine, says Dr. Drews.
That being said, dont wait to get your childs flu shot just to try to time it with his or her COVID-19 vaccine.
The ideal time of year to get a flu shot is before the end of October. Since Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine wont be approved for children by then, I recommend getting them vaccinated against influenza now, and then vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 once it becomes available, says Dr. Drews.
As with anything related to your childs health, youre likely cautious very cautious, in fact.
Young children are less likely to become severely ill with COVID-19 than adults, but it happens, says Dr. Drews. Its why, in the absence of a vaccine for kids, weve encouraged families with young children to take masking and social distancing very seriously during the recent surge.
And even with these safety recommendations, public health experts are noticing an alarming trend. Its estimated that young children accounted for 30,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. in August and almost 30% of infections during one week in late September.
Just as weve seen the benefit of vaccinating adults and teens, getting young children vaccinated will be an important step in protecting your family and community, Dr. Drews adds.
Immunity is complex, and its easy to think that having natural immunity (from a recent infection) is enough. However, case reports and studies show that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible. The good news is that its less likely for a person to get reinfected if he or she gets vaccinated after having COVID-19.
Even if your child had COVID-19 previously, it is still recommended that he or she be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as the shot is made available, says Dr. Drews. There are still too many questions regarding natural immunity to feel confident in the protection it provides.
Once the shot is made available, kids who have COVID-19 can get vaccinated as soon as theyve recovered and ended their isolation.
From: Houston Methodist Hospital
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