As of May 10th, the Pfizer COVID vaccine received authorization for adolescents aged 12 to 17. Just three days later, my 14-year-old son was among the first in our area to receive his shot, marking a significant moment for our family.
My husband and I had no reservations about getting our son vaccinated. We were already vaccinated ourselves, and I felt reassured by the safety information available. For my son, who has asthma, getting vaccinated represented a chance for greater freedom after a year of restrictions. It was also a vital step in protecting not just our family but our community as well.
However, I was taken aback to learn that, as of July 28th, only 7.1 million kids within this age bracket had been fully vaccinated. The American Academy of Pediatric’s statistics show that only 28% of 12-15 year-olds and 40% of 16-17 year-olds have completed their vaccinations. This means that a staggering 72% of 12-15 year-olds and 60% of 16-17 year-olds remain unvaccinated.
As schools prepare to reopen and with the Delta variant spreading, we need as many eligible kids vaccinated as possible. Vaccination not only protects individuals but also safeguards those around them, including younger students who are not yet eligible for the vaccine and vulnerable teachers and staff.
Moreover, getting your tween or teen vaccinated reduces the risk of them bringing the virus home, which is particularly important if there are unvaccinated family members living in the same household. I have an unvaccinated child at home, and one of the main reasons I ensured my teen received the vaccine was to protect him.
Despite some parents expressing hesitance towards vaccinating their teens—citing concerns about the short testing period, potential side effects like myocarditis, and the generally mild cases of COVID in younger populations—it’s crucial to address these anxieties.
While it’s understandable for parents to feel apprehensive, much of the information fueling these worries stems from misinformation. Regarding side effects, data shows that serious adverse reactions are extremely rare. As noted by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina from Your Local Epidemiologist, a large-scale monitoring program has revealed that 49-56% of teens experienced side effects after the first dose, typically mild symptoms such as soreness, fatigue, and headaches. Only a tiny fraction needed medical attention, and hospitalization rates remain low.
Concerning myocarditis, reports indicate just 147 cases linked to the vaccine in the 12-17 age group, with all responding positively to treatment and no fatalities reported. Importantly, the risk of heart issues from contracting COVID is significantly higher than that associated with the vaccine.
Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine physician, emphasizes the severity of COVID-related hospitalizations compared to those arising from vaccine complications. The reality is, COVID poses real risks to children, including severe illness and long COVID, with over 400 pediatric deaths recorded since the pandemic began.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC director, has reiterated that 400 child fatalities from a respiratory illness is unacceptable. The solution is straightforward: vaccination. They are safe, effective, and crucial for keeping your 12-17 year-olds out of the hospital. Vaccination is an essential measure for reopening schools safely and ultimately overcoming this pandemic.
We all play a role in this endeavor, including ensuring our eligible children are vaccinated. If you want to delve deeper into related topics, check out our other blog post on home insemination strategies here, or for expert insights on fertility, visit this site. For more information on health and pregnancies, Science Daily offers excellent resources.
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In summary, vaccinating your 12-17-year-old against COVID is crucial not only for their health but for the safety of those around them. Don’t let misinformation prevent you from making an informed decision that could protect your family and community.