BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Parents could get Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11 next week.
The CDC is expected to pick up emergency clearance for the vaccine next week. dr. David Kimberlin, pediatric infectious disease physician at Children’s of Alabama, says this is good news for parents, children and efforts to contain the pandemic. dr. Kimberlin said the vaccine is safe and offers a lot of protection against COVID.
The FDA’s advisory committee on Tuesday approved the vaccine for five to 11-year-olds. Once final emergency approval is granted, approximately 28 million children could be vaccinated. dr. Kimberlin said Pfizer may have conducted its own tests, but the FDA advisory committee also looked closely at their data to make sure they were safe for children.
While many parents wait for the consent, others may need to be convinced. While some argue that children are less vulnerable to getting COVID-19, said Dr. Kimberlin that the vaccine is safe. He said it will protect parents, their children and those around them who may be vulnerable to the virus.
dr. Kimberlin urged parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible. “Currently, COVID is the eighth cause of death in children. The eighth leading cause of death. So this is something parents can say ‘this probably won’t happen to my child’. They’re right, it’s unlikely, but not impossible,” said Dr. Kimberlin.
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