Parental anxiety over the COVID-19 vaccine shot rose considerably last week when the Food & Drug Administration approved vaccinations for children ages 5-11. It will likely play a vital role in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.
According to the CDC, “Vaccinating children will help protect them from getting COVID-19 and therefore reducing their risk of severe disease, hospitalizations, or developing long-term COVID-19 complications. Getting your children vaccinated can help protect them against COVID-19, as well as reduce disruptions to in-person learning and activities by helping curb community transmission.”
Leeann Peoples, a Leon County parent, says that the COVID-19 vaccination for her 6-year-old daughter is a safety concern for her.
“Because my daughter is a healthy kid, I would not let her get the vaccine right now until we have more data,” Peoples said. “It’s a safety concern for me, and not enough data shows the side effects the vaccine may have on kids in the long-term. However, if my daughter had a weak immune system or a pre-existing condition, I would let her get the vaccine because I have seen how severe the symptoms are and could be deadly for those with weak immune systems.”
Concerns about the vaccine’s adverse effects and how effectively it works for their children are essential considerations in parents’ immunization selections.
Amaya Smith, a Gadsden County parent, has some concerns about giving the vaccine to her 6-year-old son.
“No, I am not putting my child at risk of no vaccine where there is no evidence of long-term effects,” Smith said.
Some schools recommend the COVID-19 vaccination, but many parents are reluctant to have it administered to their children.
COVID-19 injections are allowed for younger kids as long as their parents approve.
When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination, parents of younger children are more concerned about the unknown, long-term consequences, significant side effects, and infertility, which are among the most common worries.
Carlos Conyers, a Leon County parent, needs more data of the long-term effects of the vaccine before he decides to let his 6-year-old son take it.
“No, I wouldn’t, the vaccine doesn’t come with any records of short or long-term effects,” Conyers said.
“Also, the CEO of the Pfizer vaccine hasn’t even taken the vaccine, so if the CEO doesn’t trust it why should I,” he added.
It is essential to remember that the continual transmission of this virus allows it to mutate further and develop a new variety that may be more infectious or resistant to the currently available vaccinations and treatments.