A hospital in Connecticut began administering Covid-19 vaccines to children, aged between five to 11, just minutes after the CDC officially signed off on approval.
Hartford Hospital vaccinated six children with a low dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday evening and dozens more will get the shot today.
It came just moments after the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously voted, 14-0, to recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid pediatric vaccine dose for five to 11-year-olds.
Dr Rochelle Walsky, Director of the CDC, signed off on the vote. This means that approximately 28,000,000 children in the US now have the right to get the shots.
It was the last step in the process that allowed injections to young children to be started this week in America.
Some people opposed the approval of the vaccine, arguing that vaccinations for children are unnecessary because of the low risk Covid poses to young children.
In the United States, there have been more then 1.9 million cases, over 8,300 hospitalizations and more than 2,300 cases MIS–C (pediatric multisystem inflammatory Syndrome) among 5- to 11-year olds. There have also been about 100 deaths.
However, those who supported the decision argue that vaccinations children have the potential to reduce school closures as well as transmission to the wider population. This could help to curb the spread of the pandemic.
Minutes after Tuesday’s official approval by the CDC, six children were vaccinated at Hartford Hospital.
After the vaccine approval was confirmed, many parents brought their children with them to Hartford Hospital. Six of the six children were vaccinated by Hartford Hospital after 8 p.m. on Tuesday night.
One young girl who got the shot, Kailyn Cronin, eight, told WFSB that she had been ‘nervous’ about getting the vaccine but was looking forward to the world going back to normal.
“I felt very nervous, but now it’s over. Now, we are vaccinated. This is a huge step towards making the world normal again. We don’t all need to wear masks, and everyone can be safe and healthy.
Liz Cronin, a mother, said that she could cry. “We’ve all waited so long for it for our children to… feel normal again.
Kareem Omar, six year old, stated that the shot he received ‘doesn’t really pain’ and added that he did it for America’s sake. Because it’s helping America, and the world, so, every person on Earth has a better life.
Only one-third of the original vaccine dose for adults is available for children at Pfizer. The two doses are given three weeks apart.
The lower dose was chosen to minimize side effects and still produce strong immunity, Pfizer says, and studies showed that it is about 91 per cent effective against Covid.
After receiving the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine to protect his children at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, a ten year-old boy gives Colleen Teevan a high five.
The Pfizer dose for children contains only one-third the original vaccine for adults, and is approximately 91 percent effective against Covid. Pictured: Children queue for the shot in Connecticut
Before full approval by the CDC, stickers for children will be seen. Children can receive the Pfizer BioNTech Colvid-19 vaccine at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut on November 2, 2021.
President Joe Biden issued a statement calling the decision ‘a turning point’ in the battle against Covid-19 and said they had secured enough vaccines for every child in America.
Children make up less that 0.1 percent of all Covid-related deaths in the U.S.
Due to the low risk of severe illnesses, polls show that many parents aren’t inclined to vaccinate children.
The CDC convened a panel made up of independent scientists to review the available data about the outbreak in children and the effectiveness of Pfizer’s vaccine. They also discussed possible side effects of the vaccine during a day-long live stream.
The panel unanimously recommended the vaccination, and the CDC later supported that recommendation.
The main concern was myocarditis. This is an inflammation of heart muscle that can be found in adolescents and young adults (mostly men) after vaccination with Moderna or Pfizer.
Nearly 880 cases of people younger than 30 years have been confirmed by the health authorities. Nearly 830 of these patients required hospitalization.
Nine deaths have been linked to myocarditis following the vaccination.
Dr. Matthew Oster, a pediatric cardiologist, stated that six cases of vaccine-related myocarditis had been reviewed.
He said, “I’m more concerned about what would happen if their child gets Covid, for patients without heart disease, than if they got this vaccine.”
New survey data published on Thursday from the Kaiser Family Foundation found 27 percent of parents with kids aged five to 11 say that their children will get vaccinated as soon as it’s available.
A survey revealed that more than one third of parents of children aged 5-11 are not planning on getting their children vaccinated against Covid because of the low risk of serious illness.
33 percent said they would wait and see how the vaccine works before deciding whether to immunize their children.
Another 5 percent of parents state that they will only get their kids vaccinated if required by their schools, while 30% say they won’t get their kids vaccinated.
A member of the FDA advisory panel voted against recommending the shot to children last week, claiming that there is not enough evidence to recommend the shot to all children.
The FDA’s Vaccines Advisory Commission voted 17-0-1 to recommend that the vaccine be used for children five to eleven years old.
Dr Michael Kurilla (pictured) was the only member to abstain in the FDA’s advisory committee vote of 17-0-1 to recommend approval of COVID-19 vaccines in children ages five to 11
DailyMail.com was told by Dr Michael Kurilla (director of the Division of Clinical Innovation) at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences that he was the only member who did not vote ‘yes’.
Kurilla claims that there are children at high risk of severe Covid from underlying conditions. However, he isn’t sure if this applies for all children in this age group.
He also stated that children who have been infected by Covid in the past are likely to have immunity.
Kurilla stated that current data doesn’t suggest the vaccine’s protection will be long-lasting enough, and he is concerned that antibodies in children will decrease as in adults.
The government was ahead of the curve, procuring sufficient doses for the children aged 5-11 and beginning to ship them throughout the country.
In a White House statement, President Joe Biden stated that “Today, we have reached an important turning point in our fight against Covid-19.”
Vaccinating children younger than 5 years old will ‘end months of anxious worrying about their children, and reduce the spread of the virus to other children. The president said that it was a major step forward in our fight against the virus.
Children watch as Colleen Teevan, a pharmacist, reconstitutes Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine for children before giving it to six children who are waiting to be amongst the first to receive the vaccine at Hartford Hospital in Hartford (Connecticut) on November 2, 2021
The caps for children’s vials are orange, which makes them easier to recognize than the purple caps for older groups. Pictured: A vial of the new children’s dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, seen at Hartford Hospital in Hartford on Tuesday
He said that the government has enough vaccine for every child in America and that officials have begun packing and shipping millions of doses over the weekend.
He said that the program would be ramped up in the days ahead and fully operational by the week of the 8th of November.
Two injections of the vaccine will be administered, each three weeks apart. The dose has been adjusted to 10 micrograms, as opposed to 30 micrograms for those in older age groups.
The caps on the vials of children will be orange, which makes them easier to recognize than the purple caps on older groups’ vials.
Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, stated in a statement that she encourages parents to ask questions about vaccines and to get their children vaccinated.
Expected benefits of vaccinations for children include fewer school closings and a possible decrease in the spread of the disease to the general population.
Beth Bell, an infectious disease specialist who is also a member of the CDC’s committee, said, “If I had a grandson, I would definitely get that grandchild vaccinated as quickly as possible.”
“We have excellent evidence of safety and efficacy. We have a favorable analysis of the risk and benefits.
What you need to know about vaccines in children aged 5-11
As young as five years old, U.S. children can now get vaccines. This relief has been felt by some parents as well as those who have questions or fear.
Late Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave the final approval for children aged 5-11 years old to receive kid-sized doses from the vaccine made jointly by Pfizer and BioNTech.
Other doctors’ groups and pediatricians praised the move. They are now ready to help families decide if they should vaccinate their children.
The shots will be available in pediatricians’ offices, clinics, pharmacies and pharmacies as soon as Wednesday. They are free, just like the COVID-19 adult vaccines.
Here are some things that you need to know:
SHOULD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN GET VACCINATED?
Yes, according to U.S. health authorities and leading doctors´ groups. Although the virus is more severe in children than adults, COVID-19 is causing a lot of unnecessary suffering in children.
About 1.9 Million children aged 5-11 years old have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Around 8,300 were hospitalized, while a third required intensive care. At least 94 deaths were confirmed.
FILE – This October 2021, photo from Pfizer shows child-sized doses for its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs (Belgium). (Pfizer via AP, File)
That´s not counting the risk of a serious complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome that can hit kids several weeks after they recovered from even a mild infection.
Vaccination can also help children return to school and social activities more safely.
ARE KID DOOSES THE SAME SIZE ADULT ONES?
No. No. That´s 10 micrograms per shot for youngsters, compared to 30 micrograms per shot for everyone 12 and older. As everyone else, the younger children will get two shots three weeks apart.
HOW WELL DO THE SHOTS WORK?
In a study, Pfizer´s pediatric vaccine proved nearly 91% effective at preventing symptomatic infection. Vaccinated youngsters developed levels of virus-fighting antibodies as strong as teens and young adults who´d received the full-strength dose.
ARE THERE OTHER EFFECTS?
The 5- to 11-year olds experienced some unpleasant post-shot reactions. They had sore arms and fatigue. However, they were less likely than teens and young adults to get fevers.
The study involves 4,600 children. 3,100 were given the vaccine, while the rest received dummy shots. FDA did not find any safety concerns.
WHAT ABOUT RARE PROBLEMS?
Tens of thousands of larger doses of the drug have been safely administered to Americans aged 12 and over. Heart inflammation has been identified as a very rare side effect.
These rare reactions are most common in teenage boys or men, usually after the second dose. They tend to quickly recover.
Doctors warn that COVID-19 infection may cause more severe heart inflammation. Experts believe testosterone and puberty play a significant role in this risk. Because of this, experts expect that the risk to younger children would be even lower.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABOUT to Turn 12?
CDC said children should get the dose that´s right for their age on the day of vaccination. If a child receives the 10-microgram dose for their first shot, and then turns 12, the 30-microgram dose should be taken.
DO I JUST WAIT TO UNITL THEIR 12-TH BIRTHDAY SO BOTH HOTS ARE THE LARGER DOSE?
Pediatricians advise against delaying vaccinations as the dose that is kid-sized is more effective for this age group.
IS THE CDC’S MOVE A MANDATE
No. No.
ARE SOME KIDS SERIOUSLY HARMED FROM COVID-19?
Nearly 70% of COVID-19-injured 5- to 11-year olds were also suffering from other medical conditions, such as obesity or asthma. Sometimes, even those who are otherwise healthy, they fall seriously ill.
Given the devastating social, mental, and educational effects of the pandemic on children, health authorities have made it clear that all children should get vaccinated. There also are equity concerns, as more than two-thirds of youngsters who´ve been hospitalized are Black or Hispanic.
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAD COVID-19?
They still should be vaccinated once they´ve recovered, according the CDC. While it’s obvious that prior infection can protect against another bout, the degree of immunity depends on how severe an individual is and how long ago.
Adult studies have shown that vaccinations following infection can dramatically increase protection.
PFIZER’S VACCINE IS THE UNIQUE CHOICE FOR CHILDREN.
It is available in the U.S. for now. Moderna´s similar vaccine is used by teens in some other countries and is being tested in younger children but isn´t yet available for Americans under age 18. Some other countries have also used COVID-19 vaccines with young children, including China which just started vaccinations for 3-year olds.
WHAT ABOUT VACCINATIONS PERFORMED FOR U.S. CHILDREN YOUNGER THEN 5?
Stay tuned: Pfizer & Moderna are testing low doses for babies and preschoolers.
Reporting by the Associated Press