Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Age Expansion: What You Need to Know
On May 10, 2021, The Food and Drug Administration announced that children 12 to 15 years old are now eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Two days later, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 12-15 years old under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) emergency use authorization (EUA). Through clinical trials for adolescents aged 12-15, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was shown to be 100% effective at preventing COVID-19. Side effects were similar to those exhibited by older teens and adults. The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache - all signs the vaccine is encouraging an immune response and working as it should. The CDC has since adopted ACIP’s recommendations and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses are becoming available in communities across the country.
So, why is this important? The burden of COVID-19 cases does not include adults exclusively. Since the start of the pandemic through April 30, 2021, approximately 1.5 million COVID-19 cases in adolescents 11 to 17 years of age have been reported. As more adults are vaccinated, adolescents make up a greater proportion of total COVID-19 cases.
Kids are less likely to get extremely sick or die from COVID-19, but they can still develop the disease that causes it and spread it to others, including members of vulnerable populations. At least 127 adolescent children between 12-17 years old have died, and more than 13,000 have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
The new Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for children ages 12-15 years old allows greater protection for children, vulnerable populations, and communities everywhere. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have questions or concerns. To find a Pfizer vaccine near you, visit http://www.boostoregon.org/covid19.
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