BY ANSHI PEDDAREDDIVARI
As the Coronavirus pandemic gets worse with new variants and strings like the Delta and Omicron variant, vaccines for 12 and up become more available.
Although this is very helpful, 39% of COVID cases under the age of 18 are from ages 5 to 11. This is a large amount of the population, and if this percentage gets higher it can lead to a more serious problem. Many vaccine companies were working hard on this project; this includes Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen. Pfizer-BioNTech has been the closest to this goal with a previous vaccine of 12 and up. Finding this vaccine has been a major problem up until very recently; here are the facts.
The Pfizer-BioNTech 5 to 11 Pediatric COVID vaccines were approved by the FDA on October 29, 2021. The vaccine is very similar to the 12+ vaccine but there are some minor differences. This includes the difference in dosage amounts between the two. The pediatric dose is only 10 micrograms while the 12+ vaccine is 30 micrograms. A similarity is that both the 12 & up and the 5 -11 vaccines are made with the same ingredients. Vaccines can be found in your local pharmacy, grocery stores, convenient stores, and other stores and buildings. Getting vaccinated can help you, your family, your friends, and others safe.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html