Vaccinating kids is a crucial step in our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and move closer toward normalcy
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
For many kids, spring is an exciting time. It means outdoor sports, hanging out with friends and looking forward to summer activities. In recent months, schools, camps and pools were closed. Many children remained at home — some indoors — for months.
This spring, there’s reason for hope.
Last week, the Pfizer vaccine was authorized for use in children as young as 12 years old. In clinical trials, the vaccine was effective at preventing COVID-19 infection and well tolerated in this age group.
Side effects from the vaccine are similar to those seen in older adolescents and adults. They are generally mild, and include soreness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or body aches. Both Pfizer and Moderna have trials underway to find out if their vaccines are safe and effective in children between the ages of 6 months and 11 years.
Here’s why vaccinating children against COVID-19 is important:
- We know that children can develop COVID-19. In fact, nearly 4 million children have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the U.S. Of these,15,000 children were hospitalized and nearly 300 died.
- Although most cases of COVID-19 in children are mild, some children develop a rare and dangerous condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) that can require hospitalization and intensive care.
- 1 in 4 Americans are children. Vaccinating children is vital to achieving herd immunity. By expanding eligibility to 12-15 year-olds, the pool of people eligible for the vaccine is 87% of the U.S. population.
Find a vaccine provider in Ashtabula County by visiting coronavirus.ohio.gov.