On June 18, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved COVID-19 vaccination for all children 6 months to 5 years of age. With COVID-19 cases rising, many parents are eager to vaccinate their youngest children against the virus, but many still have questions. The following are commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines for infants and toddlers ages 6mo-5y.
Why should my baby or young child receive COVID-19 vaccine?
(Citation: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/downloads/slides-2022-06-17-18/02-COVID-Fleming-Dutra-508.pdf)
Children are susceptible to COVID-19 infection. Well over 2 million cases of COVID-19 infections have occurred in U.S. children under age 5.
More hospitalizations (over 20,000 young children) and deaths (over 400) occurred in this age group as a result of COVID-19 infections than from any other infectious disease.
COVID-19 is more dangerous to infants and toddlers than the seasonal flu. During the most recent Omicron surge, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the 6 months to 4-year age group have exceeded influenza-related hospitalizations at any time during past 6 years. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, childhood influenza deaths during the regular season have ranged from 39 to 199 since 2004. Meanwhile, in 2021 alone, more than 400 children ages 6 months 4-years died from COVID-19.
During the Omicron wave, children under age 5 had a significantly higher rate of hospitalization than older children or teens. This is likely due in large part to a lack of vaccination in the youngest age group.
More than half of hospitalized children (63%) had no underlying health conditions.
What else should I know in making a vaccine decision for my young child?
Due to the unpredictability of circulating COVID-19 variants, exact effectiveness in disease prevention and hospitalizations cannot be calculated. The best current evidence indicates that: (Citation: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-and-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccines-children)
1) Vaccination of children under age 5 will reduce symptomatic infections by 40-50%. This is consistent with effectiveness for older age groups against the currently circulating COVID-19 variants.
2) Based on longer-term data in older populations, it is likely that vaccination of young children will reduce illnesses severe enough to result in hospitalization by 70-75%.
Safety data was judged to be very reassuring by pediatric and infectious disease experts at the FDA and CDC. However, until hundreds of thousands of children are vaccinated, definitive statements on benefits and risks cannot be made. There was one child in each manufacturer’s study that had fevers high enough to require brief hospitalization.
It is very likely that children in this age range will require a booster dose several months after their initial vaccination series to optimize longer term protection.
How many doses of vaccine are needed and on what schedule?
For children under 5, there are two vaccines available. The three-dose Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be given to children 6 months to 4 years of age. The two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for children ages 6 months to 5 years.
If your child receives the Pfizer vaccine, it is a three-dose vaccine series: the second three to eight weeks after the first dose, and the third dose more than eight weeks after the second.
For the Moderna vaccine, it is a two-dose vaccine series: the second four to eight weeks after the first.
A child can be considered fully immunized two weeks after the third dose of the Pfizer vaccine or two weeks after the second dose of the Moderna vaccine.
Where can I get my child vaccinated?
The Garrett County Health Department is offering vaccinations to 6-month to 5-year-olds along with all other age groups on Fridays between 9:00 and 4:00 at the Grantsville Outreach center located at 28 Hershberger Lane beginning June 24th. Vaccinations will be available at the Health Department in Oakland in Suite 205 on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 4:00 beginning on June 28th. Appointments can be scheduled on the Garrett County Health Department website at www.garretthealth.org.
As always, parents and caregivers are encouraged to seek the advice of their primary healthcare provider or local pharmacist when making vaccine or any other health-related decisions.
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