Since November 5, more than 5 million children between 5 and 11 years old have received their first dose. Government safety monitoring has not revealed any unexpected problems.
The doses given to this age group are child-sized, which is a third of what would be required to vaccinate all people 12 and older. Based on a study that showed the child-sized doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were 91% effective in preventing symptoms from COVID-19, the Food and Drug Administration approved the shots. The virus-fighting antibodies developed in the 5- to 11-year olds were as strong as those found in teens and young adults who received regular doses. They also had similar or fewer unpleasant reactions, such as fever, sore arms, or achiness.
The safety of the doses for children was evaluated by the FDA in 3100 children who were vaccinated. The FDA deemed this sufficient data considering the safety information gleaned from millions of higher doses administered to teens and adults worldwide.
Teens and young adults who have received the Pfizer vaccine, or any similar Moderna vaccine, rarely experience heart inflammation or myocarditis. This happens mostly in teenage boys and young men, usually after the second dose. The vaccine’s benefits far outweigh the small risk. They recover quickly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently investigating a few reports of mild to moderate heart inflammation among 5- to 11 year-olds. These cases have been reported since the inoculations began.
Dr. Matthew Oster, Emory University’s pediatric cardiologist, stated that COVID-19 can also cause heart inflammation. Children who have been infected with coronavirus can also get multisystem inflammation syndromes.
Doctors diagnosed heart inflammation due to bacterial or viral infections and medications before the pandemic. This was mostly for teenage boys and young men. Oster suggested that there is a possibility that testosterone and puberty may play a part in vaccine-related risks. Experts believe younger children will be at lower risk if they are given a smaller dose.