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The CDC's advisory panel has approved the Pfizer pediatric COVID vaccine for all children aged 5 to 11, with full backing from major health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, all of whom voiced their support at the meeting.
The vaccine received FDA authorization last week, and the government has already secured enough doses to provide free vaccines to the 28 million children in this age group across the U.S. The CDC will soon make the recommendation official, and appointments should be available at pediatricians' offices or local vaccination centers in just a few days. [Update 11/3/2021: it’s official. Go ahead and book now.]
A representative from the American Pharmacists’ Association highlighted at the meeting that appointments will likely be necessary, with limited walk-in options at pharmacies. Expect some wait times due to high demand from parents and staffing challenges at pharmacies.
How does this vaccine differ from the one for teens and adults?
This vaccine, just like the one used for adults and children ages 12 and older, has been proven safe, immunogenic (meaning it triggers the production of neutralizing antibodies in children's immune systems), and effective in preventing COVID-19. The side effects are comparable to those experienced by adults.
The pediatric version of the vaccine is packaged in vials with orange caps, unlike the purple-capped vials used for the adult formulation. It is also administered in a smaller dose. When scheduling your appointment, ensure you’re going to a clinic that can provide the pediatric version, as adult doses are different. However, if a child mistakenly receives the adult dose, there should be no serious consequences, and that dose will still count towards their vaccination series.
Should children receive the COVID vaccine?
While children are less likely than adults to experience severe illness from COVID-19, they can still get sick and are certainly capable of transmitting the virus to others, including adults and family members. (Over 140,000 children in the U.S. have lost a parent to COVID.)
COVID-19 has caused the deaths of at least 94 children in the 5-11 age group in the U.S., making it the eighth leading cause of death in this demographic. Over 8,000 children have been hospitalized, with some experiencing severe and potentially lifelong effects. While children are more likely to have mild or asymptomatic infections, a significant number still face serious illness due to this virus.
Since the FDA authorized the vaccine for this age group, I’ve been asking pediatricians for their opinions on who should receive the vaccine and who might not need it or should wait. Every response has been consistent: The benefits of the vaccine greatly outweigh the risks for nearly everyone.
Dr. Daniel Summers, a pediatrician, states, “I’m recommending it to all my patients within the approved age group. Even the small risk of serious complications from COVID-19 in children is higher than I’m willing to accept when we have a safe and effective way to reduce that risk.”
Dr. Adam Ratner, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, says, “Vaccinating children is the best way to protect them from COVID-19 and an essential step toward ending the pandemic.” He emphasized that the vaccine not only directly benefits children by preventing illness but also helps reduce the virus's spread in the community, protecting vulnerable people and helping keep schools safe and operational.
Dr. Preeti Parikh, Medical Director at GoodRx, states, “All eligible children should get the vaccine.” She noted that the COVID-19 delta variant has been more contagious for children, and the risks of hospitalization or serious illness, including myocarditis, are higher from COVID-19 than from the vaccine's side effects. It's crucial to protect our children, and the sooner they are vaccinated, the better.”
Updated on 11/3/2021 to include Dr. Parikh’s statement.
