Local pediatrician talks to FOX10 News about COVID vaccine for children | Coronavirus COVID-19 News

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) — A local pediatrician spoke to FOX10 News on Monday about the safety of the COVID vaccine for children.

dr. Katrina Skinner works in Fairhope and is the president of the Alabama branch of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

dr. Skinner said COVID poses many risks to children, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C, in which multiple organ systems in the child’s body become inflamed. MIS-C can be very dangerous for children, even fatal.

“We definitely saw an increase in MIS-C cases during the Delta wave in Alabama. And during that time, there were more kids hospitalized with COVID and more kids dying from COVID. And I think the total number in our state now peaks at about 108 or 109 in MIS-C cases,” said Dr. skinner.

The doctor said she believes the vaccine is safe for most children, but parents should talk to their child’s pediatrician first.

“If you or your child has ever had an allergic reaction, a severe life-threatening reaction to any component of the vaccine, you should talk to your doctor before getting the vaccine,” she said.

dr. Skinner expects parents to be able to have their child vaccinated within weeks. Many offices have already reserved the vaccine, so if it’s approved, it should be shipped immediately.