Children Ages 12-15 Now Eligible for Vaccination
Creative Commons Courtesy of Marco Verch
600,000 children, ages 12-15, have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine across the nation, according to NBC News. Refer to the City of Irvine Covid-19 Resources for a nearby vaccination center.
The Food and Drug Administration approved administration of the Pfizer vaccine to adolescents ages 12-15 on May 13. This age group makes up 5% of the country’s population with roughly 17 million more individuals now eligible to receive the vaccine, according to the New York Times.
Forty-nine states across the country have declared that they have begun administering vaccines to those 12 to 15 years of age. The state of Montana made no official statement, though its county officials confirmed that vaccines have now been offered to this age group, according to the New York Times.
The Pfizer vaccine is available to anyone who lives or works in Orange County at local drugstores such as Walgreens or the Orange County Great Park Vaccination Clinic. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and must provide proof of age along with a picture ID.
Sixth grader at Stonegate Elementary Jasmine Shao, sister of junior Grace Shao, is among many siblings who plan on getting the vaccine as soon as possible.
A lot of my friends are vaccinated already, and it would mean less stress about getting sick since all our family members would be vaccinated. I have an allergy, which we heard might increase the risks, but I’m not that concerned since all my friends are okay.
— Jasmine Shao
“I do plan on getting vaccinated,” Jasmine Shao said. “A lot of my friends are vaccinated already, and it would mean less stress about getting sick since all our family members would be vaccinated. I have an allergy, which we heard might increase the risks, but I’m not that concerned since all my friends are okay.”
With any vaccine, there are some risks that parents and children should take into consideration. While there have not been any confirmed cases of significant adverse effects in the age group, common side effects such as fever, nausea or muscle pain are expected to arrive shortly after the second shot.
“Expansion of our EUA [Emergency Use Authorization] represents a significant step forward in helping the U.S. government broaden its vaccination program and helps protect adolescents before the start of the next school year,” Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer Albert Bourla said in a press release on May 10.
CEO and BioNTech co-founder Ugur Sahin expressed hope that the vaccination of young children will return normalcy to people’s lives.
“Across the globe, we are longing for a normal life,” Sahin said in a press release on May 10. “This is especially true for our children. It is very important to enable them to get back to everyday school life and to meet friends and family while protecting them and their loved ones.”
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