pivot on the strength of the trial data, but on whether Pfizer shows it can properly produce a pediatric version of the vaccine.
About a third of parents of children in that age group said they would wait and see before getting their children a shot, a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found.
Public discussion is crucial because many parents are torn between the fear of COVID-19 and concerns about vaccine side effects, Dr. Walt Orenstein, an epidemiologist at Emory University and a former director of the U.S. immunization program, tells the Times.
If parents were less worried about the risks of coronavirus infection, safety would be their top priority, but if they were more worried, the vaccine’s effectiveness would take priority, Orenstein adds.
As with other vaccines, pediatricians would play a vital role in reducing parents’ anxiety about their children receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, Orenstein notes.
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The 2,268 children in Pfizer’s study submitted to the FDA was a noticeably small number, Norman Baylor, former director of the FDA’s vaccines office, says during a virtual panel on COVID-19 last week. That means the study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation, that often occurs after the second dose of the regular-strength vaccine adults recieve.
The company’s adult trial included about 44,000 participants.
“It does beg the question of the size, given what we have for the adults: Would one expect more for the pediatric population?” Baylor questions. “They may be thinking, ‘Well, we know the vaccine is safe, because look at how many people we had in the adults.’ But as we know, things may shift in that pediatric population.”
Moderna has already requested approval for a vaccine for 12 to 17-year-olds and is studying a vaccine for children in elementary school. Additionally, both Pfizer and Moderna are studying vaccines for children as young as 6-months-old. The results are expected later this year.
READ: 5 Good Reasons for Kids to Get the COVID Vaccine
Finding a vaccine
If you are looking to get your child vaccinated, the CDC recommends the following:
- Check your local pharmacy’s website to see if vaccination walk-ins or appointments are available.
- Check with your child’s healthcare provider about whether they offer COVID-19 vaccination.
- Contact your state or local health department for more information.
For more information about COVID vaccines for children, visit the CDC.