Children ages 5 to 11 to begin receiving COVID vaccine
Children ages 5 to 11 will start getting their first COVID-19 vaccine injections this week after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday approved the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use for that age group.
“I think it’s fabulous,” said Dr. Michael Faust, a pediatrician at Washington Health System. “Based on the studies we have, the safety of the vaccine seems to not be an issue, and certainly getting vaccinated is the best thing to do.”
Pennsylvania vaccine providers, including pediatricians, primary care physicians, family doctors, pharmacies, large retailers, health centers and grocery stores, will be able to schedule appointments and administer the Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Many vaccine pre-orders have already been delivered, with more expected in the coming days and weeks.
Washington Health System is planning a pediatric COVID vaccine clinic for Saturday, Nov. 13, at Washington Hospital. Bentworth, Washington, and Mt. Lebanon school districts also plan to schedule clinics, but details haven’t been finalized.
Gov. Tom Wolf said Wednesday, “The availability of the new pediatric vaccine is great news in the fight against COVID-19. This will provide comfort for parents, teachers, pediatricians and community members across the commonwealth – knowing that we have a safe and effective way to protect more of our children from COVID-19-related illness.”
Faust said even though children are far less likely to get seriously ill or die from COVID, tens of thousands have been hospitalized, and, according to CDC data, at least 655 children have died.
“People question the need for giving it to children, and I’m sensitive to that, but it’s not like kids don’t get serious infection from this. It’s not like the burden of the elderly, but there have been thousands of hospitalizations of children and hundreds have died,” said Faust.
He also noted thousands of children and teens have developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C, and others have developed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.
Vaccinating children also can play a role in reducing community transmission of COVID-19.
While COVID-19 cases have decreased in recent weeks, the level of community transmission remains high in about 90% of counties in the United States, including Washington, Greene and Fayette counties.
“We’ve known for a long time the primary spreaders of infectious disease in the community is children, largely school-age, and the idea of being able to vaccinate them to prevent spread throughout the community is pretty beneficial,” said Faust.
Clinical trials have shown the COVID-19 vaccine to be nearly 91% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children between the ages of 5 and 11.
For 5- to 11-year-olds, the vaccine is administered in two doses, with the second dose coming three weeks after the first. A dose of the Pfizer vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds contains one-third the amount of active ingredient compared to the dose for children 12 and older.
No serious side effects were reported among 3,100 children ages 5 to 11 who received the vaccine in the ongoing clinical trials.
A risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, especially after the second vaccine dose for boys and men ages 12 to 29, has been observed in studies of the vaccine in that population. For that reason, a warning will be included in the fact sheet for the vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 as well.
Faust pointed out that studies show the risk of heart problems after getting COVID is significantly higher than after the getting vaccination.
CDC director Dr. Rochelle Wolensky said in a statement, “As a mom, I encourage parents with questions to talk to their pediatrician, school nurse or local pharmacist to learn more about the vaccine and the importance of getting their children vaccinated.”
Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said the department will continue to encourage all Pennsylvanians to get their COVID-19 vaccine. “We are very excited that we can now include children ages 5 and over in that effort,” said Beam. “To fellow parents I say: If you have a child between 5 and 11, get them vaccinated and give your child the power to safely learn, play and be a kid.”
Currently, children ages 5 through 11 can only receive the Pfizer 5- to- 11-year-old vaccine; children ages 12 through 17 can only receive the Pfizer 12-and-older vaccine, and adults age 18 and older can choose from the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Faust also expressed he was pleased that more than 50% of children over 12 have been vaccinated in Washington, Greene, and Fayette counties.
“I’m hopeful the vaccination rates of children in the 5 to 11 age range follow that trend,” he said.
To find the nearest COVID-19 vaccine provider, visit www.Vaccines.gov.