Health

CDC advisor recommends COVID-19 scans for children under 5 years old


NEW YORK – U.S. health advisers on Saturday recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for infants, toddlers and preschoolers – the last group not getting the shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisors unanimously decided that the coronavirus vaccine should be given to children under 6 months of age. Final signatories are expected later in the day from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

Although the Food and Drug Administration agrees with the vaccines, it is up to the CDC to decide who should receive them.

The government is already preparing for the start of the attacks as early as next week, with Millions of doses ordered for distribution to doctors, hospitals and public health clinics across the country.

About 18 million children will be eligible, but it remains to be seen how many will ultimately be vaccinated. Less than a third of children aged 5 to 11 have done so since vaccinations were opened up last November.

Here are a few things to know:

WHAT TYPEs are there?

Two brands – Pfizer and Moderna – were given the green light by the FDA on Friday.The vaccines use the same technology but are offered in different dose sizes and number of shots to the youngest children.

Pfizer’s vaccine is for 6 months to 4 years. The dose is 1/10 of the adult dose, and requires three injections. The first two are given three weeks apart, and the last at least two months later.

Moderna is two injections, one-quarter of the adult dose, given approximately 4 weeks apart for children 6 months to 5 months. The FDA also approved a third dose, at least one month after the second, for Children have immune conditions that make them more susceptible to serious illnesses.

HOW DO THEY WORK?

In studies, vaccinated young adults developed levels of antibodies against the virus as strong as young adults, suggesting that doses given to young children will protect against coronavirus infection.

However, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how active they are, especially when it comes to the Pfizer vaccine.

Two doses of Moderna appear to be only about 40% effective at preventing milder infections at a time when the omicron variant causes most COVID-19 illnesses. Pfizer presented research information that showed the company hit 80% with three shots. But Pfizer’s data is so limited – and based on a small number of cases – that experts and federal officials say they don’t feel there is a reliable estimate.

SHOULD MY Least GIVE UP?

Yes, according to CDC advisors. While COVID-19 is most dangerous for older adults, younger people, including children, can also become very ill.

The number of people hospitalized spiked during the omicron wave. Since the start of the pandemic, about 480 children under the age of 5 are counted among the nation’s more than 1 million COVID-19 deaths, federal data shows.

Dr Matthew Daley, a Kaiser Permanente Colorado researcher who was on the advisory committee, said: “Getting vaccinated is worth it, despite the relatively rare number of deaths, as these deaths can be potentially life-threatening. preventable through vaccination.

WHAT VACCINE SHOULD MY CHILD EAT?

Peter Marks, FDA’s director of vaccines, said:

“Whatever vaccine your healthcare provider or pediatrician has, that’s what I would give my child,” Marks said on Friday.

The dosages have not been tested against each other, so experts say there is no way to know which is better.

One consideration: It took about three months to complete Pfizer’s three-shot series, but only one month for Moderna’s two shots. So families looking to get their kids protected quickly may want Moderna.

WHO IS GIVING SHOES?

Pediatricians, other primary care physicians, and children’s hospitals are planning to offer this vaccine. Limited pharmacies will supply them to at least some groups under the age of 5.

US officials say most scans will take place in pediatricians’ offices. The White House COVID-19 Coordinator, Dr Ashish Jha, said many parents may feel more comfortable getting their child vaccinated at a regular doctor. He predicts vaccination rates will be much slower for older populations.

“We’re going to see vaccinations go up in weeks and maybe even months,” Jha said.

CAN YOU GET ANOTHER VACCIN AT THE SAME TIME?

Young children often get more than one vaccine when they see a doctor.

In studies of Moderna and Pfizer shots in infants and toddlers, the other vaccines were not given at the same time, so there are no data on potential side effects when that occurs.

But problems have not been identified in older children or adults when the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines are given together, and the CDC also advises that it is also safe for young children.

WHAT IF MY CHILD RECENTLY HAS COVID-19?

About 3/4 children All ages are estimated to have been infected at some point in time. For older ages, the CDC has recommended vaccination to reduce the risk of reinfection.

Experts have documented reinfection in previously infected people and say the highest level of protection occurs in vaccinated and previously infected people.

The CDC says people may consider waiting about three months after infection to get vaccinated.

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