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This put up was initially revealed in October, 2021. As of June 2022, the CDC recommends all kids ages six months and up get vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19. In a unanimous vote by each the FDA and CDC advisory panels, the vaccines have been licensed to assist shield very younger kids from the virus.
For extra on the vaccines, go to the CDC’s web site.
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Over the previous yr, a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of individuals 12 and older have been safely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19. Now we’ve reached one other long-awaited pandemic milestone: the approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds.
That is large information for folks of younger youngsters, particularly as we navigate the return to in-person studying and actions. In current months, the CDC has proven an uptick within the variety of youngsters getting COVID-19.1
The vaccine affords many mother and father hope and peace of thoughts. It’s protected and efficient on this age group.2
If in case you have questions concerning the vaccine, our physicians (who’re additionally mothers of younger youngsters) are right here to assist.
Are there any dangers?
The primary danger of vaccination is gentle unwanted side effects.
Dr. Kristi Edwards, who was a pediatrician for 13 years earlier than becoming a member of Blue Cross and Blue Protect of North Carolina, plans to get her 9-year-old son vaccinated as quickly as potential. She expects that he might expertise soreness, tiredness, and different indicators that the vaccine is working.
“There are dangers with any vaccine, the commonest of that are gentle unwanted side effects because the vaccine does its job,” she stated. “Any danger of extreme unwanted side effects is enormously outweighed by the chance of getting COVID.”
Potential unwanted side effects of the Pfizer vaccine are related in kids and adults. They embody:3
- Ache, redness, and swelling within the arm the place you bought the shot
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- Fever
These unwanted side effects are regular and may go away inside a couple of days.
Based on the CDC, the identified dangers of COVID-19 sickness and its problems, resembling long-term well being issues, far outweigh the potential dangers of getting a uncommon hostile response to vaccination.4
Dr. Anuradha Rao-Patel, whose 16-year-old son is already vaccinated and whose youngest she’s going to vaccinate “with none hesitation,” stated she’s assured within the vaccine’s security profile.
“The FDA and the CDC take vaccine security precautions very severely,” she stated. “They monitor the vaccines rigorously for any indicators of issues of safety. I might encourage mother and father to speak with their little one’s physician to debate particular person dangers and advantages.”
In case your little one has had an allergic response to any of the vaccine’s substances up to now, or when you’ve got every other considerations, speak to your little one’s physician.
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