Social media has many uses these days but being a reliable resource for facts isn’t one. It’s like the kids’ game telephone; one person whispers into someone’s ear an anecdote about a turtle crossing a stream to meet a butterfly. The story is whispered from person to person until it’s been changed so much a dinosaur is traveling the globe to butter a waffle.
To get the facts about COVID vaccines for kids, we researched what the scientific community was posting from Dr. Fauci to Science News, the CDC, the FDA, and many health experts in between. Below is information on which they all agree.
We all know by now that children and adults may react differently to the COVID-19 virus, and therefore may react differently to vaccines. Vaccine testing for efficacy and safety in adults is always done first, and when the data is in, and results are known, testing then begins for children. To date, studies have been completed for those ages 16 and older. Tests for kids ages 12 – 17 have begun, and groups will be studied until all age groups have been conducted.
It’s important to note that the speed with which the vaccines have been approved has nothing to do with taking shortcuts. Just like computer technology, experts can build upon information learned from the past and can produce new products faster each time. For adults, there has been an abundance of subjects for the trials speeding up the process. With fewer children as subjects, the process will take longer. It’s anticipated that data from the children’s clinical trials will start coming in February.
Another consideration for children is what dosage is right for them. Because their immune systems are typically more robust than those of adults, it’s possible they may need a lower dose. While all experts stress the importance of children being vaccinated when it becomes available, cutting corners in the process has never been, nor will ever be, part of the strategy.
For more information about COVID vaccinations, we recommend passing on the social media news from your neighbor’s cousin’s former veterinarian tech, and check out these sources:
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