FDA approves COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized emergency use for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 12 to 15.
This news comes during a time when COVID-19 case numbers in Illinois and Wisconsin remain high and variant strains wreak havoc overseas. Infectious disease experts and pediatricians still urge people to receive the vaccine when they can.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices still needs to review and make recommendations for this age group. Experts anticipate ACIP to make the same decision as the FDA, with final recommendations expected Wednesday.
“It is safe,” said Dr. Markeita Moore, a pediatrician with Advocate Children’s Hospital during a recent online event. “We highly recommend it.”
Children ages 16 and up can now receive their vaccines in both Illinois and Wisconsin. While many may thing COVID-19 affects only adults, there have been hospitalized children since the beginning of the pandemic, some of whom have been quite ill, said Dr. Frank Belmonte, chief medical officer at Advocate Children’s Hospital.
“We know just a little about COVID virus. We understand what we know now, but we don’t understand the long term side effects of the COVID virus, so protecting yourself is really important,” said Dr. Belmonte.
All I ever hear is about the Phizer vaccine. but what about the Moderna vaccine is it safe for children. Does it need a booster shot in a year? Is it more effective than the Phizer and how effective is the Moderna against variants,
Do we know the long term effects of the vaccine?