In recent days, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have made the decision to give the green light to the COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5 years of age, from six months of age, from the pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech, which will allow for strengthening the protection of the entire community against the disease that has claimed millions of lives around the world.
This was stated by doctors and experts in the field, who in a session with the media conducted by Ethnic Media Services explained that although there are parents who are excited about the news, others still have doubts because they are unaware of much of the information about the vaccine.
“Vaccinating our children helps us all – it protects older adults in the community, those who cannot get vaccinated, those who have compromised immune systems, and the rest of the community,” said Jennifer Miller, a pediatrician at East Bay Pediatrics.
The COVID-19 vaccine not only protects communities, but also ensures that, in the event of contracting the disease, complications are less severe, thus reducing the chances of being hospitalized, having multisystem inflammatory syndrome, and even death.
California Department of Public Health Director Lucia Abascal recommended taking children to get vaccinated, as in addition to reducing COVID-19 complications, the action also allows for community-wide immunity, and the vaccines work better against new variants compared to natural immunity.
For her part, obstetrician-gynecologist and mother Sarah Takekahua can't wait to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and thus protect her entire family. However, if there is a new wave of the disease and she tests positive for an antigen test, she will have to wait a few days.
On the other hand, she mentioned that her daughters, who are under 5 years old, are excited to receive the inoculation. “We teach our children that they are not only protecting themselves, but that they can protect the community.”
“Maybe I have one perspective, but as a mother of young children and also as a doctor, we have chosen to send our daughter to a kindergarten where there are vaccine mandates, so that she can focus solely on her education and not worry about who has a mask or not and feel safe,” Takekahua said.
What you should know about the COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5 years old
Which vaccine to choose and why? Which is safer or more effective? These are some of the questions that parents ask when they receive the news of the approval of the inoculation for children under 5 years of age. However, the Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech vaccines are both safe and effective, although they have some differences, experts said.
The Pfizer vaccine dose is lower than Moderna's, however, there are no differences in the side effects between them, and the CDC recommends both vaccines equally.
As for the doses of both vaccines, Moderna will have two doses with a space of one month between each one, however, it is expected to have a booster. On the other hand, Pfizer will have three administrations with a space of 21 days for the second dose and 60 days for the third.
A life decision
The age group between 6 months and 5 years has been the last to be approved to receive the COVID-19 inoculation and despite having waited almost a year and a half for this to happen, some parents are still hesitant to apply the inoculation to their children, however, Jennifer Miller commented that "children and adolescents need to get their lives back."
Since the beginning of the pandemic, people's way of life has changed dramatically and although activities have gradually resumed, there are children who only know half of their classmates' faces due to the use of masks, and there are even those who have seen their mental health compromised due to the sudden changes brought about by COVID-19.
Where to get the vaccine in California
Approximately 2.2 million children under the age of 5 in California will be eligible for the vaccine, and there are more than 8,500 providers who are part of the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Health authorities have recommended that parents go to their pediatricians – if they have medical service – to schedule an appointment for the application of the COVID-19 vaccine, however, information about vaccine providers can also be obtained at https://myturn.ca.gov/.
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