Pfizer To Request Emergency Approval For Vaccines For Children Aged 12 And Under

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BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Big quality connected the vaccine front; Pfizer has requested exigency usage authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine for children property 5-11.

Currently, the vaccine is lone approved for anyone implicit the property of 12, but by the extremity of the period that could beryllium changing.

If approved, doctors explicate children nether 12 would get astir 1/3 of the dosage of vaccine administered to an adult.

Dr. Esther Liu, Chair of Pediatrics astatine the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, said, “the hazard of the unwellness itself acold exceeds the hazard of the vaccine.”

She said she is disheartened to spot young COVID patients, struggling arsenic they combat the virus. She said parents should speech to their wellness attraction provider; “what we thankfully person not seen are immoderate large complications of the vaccine, but it’s a hazard benefit-I ne'er committedness my families thing is 100% effectual oregon 100% safe.”

Some parents and grandparents said they privation the children successful their beingness vaccinated, for their ain information and the information of their family.

Others deliberation the hazard is excessively great, citing the known uncommon broadside effect of myocarditis, which is inflammation of the bosom muscle. One pistillate told WJZ, “I deliberation it’s unsafe for the older kids, we’ve seen myocarditis, truthful I deliberation it’s a hazard and I don’t deliberation it should beryllium allowed.”

Vaccines person been disposable for children 12 and up since May, but lone 50% of 16 and 17 year-olds are vaccinated. 43% of kids ages 12-15 person gotten the shots.

As children be schoolhouse with their peers, transmission successful the schoolroom is simply a apical interest for wellness officials who are present seeing astir 25% of play COVID cases are children.

Dr. Lui said determination has been a 25% summation successful play pediatric COVID cases since aboriginal connected successful the pandemic erstwhile the younger property radical was little susceptible to the disease. Now that kids are backmost successful school, interacting with their peers, she said it is important they beryllium protected. “The interaction of this volition beryllium truly capable to support our school-aged kids,” said Lui.

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Kierstan Etheridge is simply a Baltimore City nonmigratory with nieces and nephews of each ages. She said, “five is beauteous young, but it’s astatine a bully property wherever kids their immune systems are stronger than younger kids similar newborn to two.”