Since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of American infants and toddlers have been infected with COVID-19, thousands have been hospitalized, and hundreds have died.
With the authorization of the vaccines for those between 6 months and 4 years of age, we are now able to provide a level of safe and effective protection to babies and toddlers who were among those at higher risk for serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID.
The FDA worked with independent pediatricians and researchers to study the multiple double-blind tests that the vaccines underwent for this age group. After rigorous evaluation of all the available data, they concluded that being vaccinated – and staying up to date with boosters – is the best way to prevent serious illness and complications from COVID.
Additionally, there were no serious side effects amongst the thousands of keiki who took part in the trials. It should be noted that in very rare instances (far less than one in a million), severe allergic reactions and/or heart inflammation have been reported in older age groups – mainly in young men.
In fact, since the side effects from COVID are so much more frequent and severe compared to those of vaccination, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) not only recommends COVID vaccines for older keiki, but for ALL keiki 6 months and up.
“We’ve successfully immunized millions of children and adolescents to protect them from COVID-19. Families with infants and toddlers need and deserve the same chance to protect their children against this virus,” shared Dr. Yvonne Maldonado MD, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases.
If you have any questions about what’s right for you and your keiki, please speak with your pediatrician.
Source: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-moderna-and-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccines-children (FDA)
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-058700/188297/COVID-19-Vaccines-in-Infants-Children-and?autologincheck=redirected (American Academy of Pediatrics)
https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/american-academy-of-pediatrics-applauds-cdc-approval-of-safe-effective-covid-19-vaccines-for-children-ages-6-months-and-older/ (American Academy of Pediatrics)
https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/children-and-covid-19-state-level-data-report/ (American Academy of Pediatrics)
https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Deaths-Focus-on-Ages-0-18-Yea/nr4s-juj3/data (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7111e2.htm (CDC)
Updated 07/05/2022
