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She said pediatric deaths from COVID-19 have been higher than what is generally seen from the flu each year.
“So I actually think we need to protect young children, as well as protect everyone with the vaccine and especially protect elders,” she said.
The FDA also authorized Moderna’s vaccines for school-aged children and teens;
For weeks, the Biden administration has been preparing to roll out the vaccines for little kids, with states, tribes, community health centers and pharmacies preordering millions of doses. With
Without protection for their tots, some families had put off birthday parties, vacations and visits with grandparents.
“Today is a day of huge relief for parents and families across America," President
While young children generally don’t get as sick from COVID-19 as older kids and adults, their hospitalizations surged during the omicron wave and FDA’s advisers determined that benefits from vaccination outweighed the minimal risks. Studies from
White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr.
“At the end of the day, our goal is very clear: We want to get as many kids vaccinated as possible," Jha told The Associated Press.
In testing, the littlest children developed high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, comparable to what is seen in young adults, the FDA said.
“Both of these vaccines have been authorized with science and safety at the forefront of our minds,’’ Dr.
Marks said parents should feel comfortable with either vaccine, and should get their kids vaccinated as soon as possible, rather than waiting until fall, when a different virus variant might be circulating. He said adjustments in the vaccines would be made to account for that.
“Whatever vaccine your health care provider, pediatrician has, that’s what I would give my child,’’ Marks said.
The two brands use the same technology but there are differences.
Both vaccines are for children as young as 6 months.
Immediately upon hearing of the FDA’s decision, Dr. Toma Omofoye, a
“My heart broke in that moment, which is why my heart is so elated now," Omofoye said.
But will other parents be as eager to get their youngest vaccinated? By some estimates, three-quarters of all
The FDA officials acknowledged those low rates and said the government is committed to getting more older kids vaccinated and having better success with younger kids.
“It’s a real tragedy, when you have something free with so few side effects that prevents deaths and hospitalization,’’ said FDA Commissioner
Roughly 440 children under age 5 have died from COVID-19, federal data show.
Dr.
“A lot of people are going to be happy and a lot of grandparents are going to be happy, too, because we’ve missed those babies who grew up when you weren’t able to see them,” Ebel said.
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