CNN
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Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance Latest Covid-19 Booster Recommendations For children ages 5 to 11. Currently, the Pfizer/BioNTech booster is available for her children aged 5 and up, and the Moderna booster can be given to her children aged 6 and up.
What should parents consider when deciding whether or not to get the latest booster for their child? Are there circumstances that might prompt families to wait? Are there any drawbacks? What about my child who just turned 5? Should I get a new booster? Will my child be eligible for a renewed booster if he or she has not yet been vaccinated?
To answer these questions, we spoke with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen. Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency physician and George She is Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of Washington Milken Institute School of Public Health. is also the author of “Lifeline: A Physician’s Journey in the Battle for Public Health” and mother of two children.
CNN: Who is eligible to receive the latest Covid-19 booster? Does it matter how many vaccines they have received before?
Dr. Liana Wen: Basically everyone over the age of 5 can receive a new bivalent Covid-19 booster. They have completed the primary vaccine seriesIt doesn’t matter how many boosters they had. That is, if at least 2 months have passed since the last vaccination, neither the child who received her first two doses of Pfizer or Moderna nor the child who has already received one of her booster doses will receive a booster dose. It means that you can inoculate
CNN: What should parents and caregivers consider before choosing the latest booster for their child?
Wen: There are two important questions.First, your child high risk of aggravation Is it because of Covid-19? The most important reason to get vaccinated is to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and other serious consequences. The first two doses of the vaccine are very good at accomplishing this for most children. If you have, your risk of worse outcomes may still be high.
Second, is it very important to you to keep your children free from Covid-19? If it is low, we have decided that eliminating Covid-19 infection is not a priority.
On the other hand, some people are very cautious. Perhaps they are worried about the long unknown about Covid. Perhaps they want to avoid their children getting sick. Or maybe you have another household member to protect, such as an aging grandparent or someone else. Chronic underlying diseaseThese are all reasonable considerations for getting kids into boosters sooner or later.
It should be noted that it is not known how long the boosters will be effective in reducing symptomatic infections. some research It has been shown that the efficacy of primary vaccines against symptomatic infections can decline within months. That said, a lot can happen with Covid-19.we could see The number of patients will increase from this autumn to winterThere may be new subspecies that become dominant. Many parents may want to have the best possible protection in the event of a child proliferation.
CNN: Are there circumstances that prompt families to wait to boost their children?
Wen: If your child has just had Covid-19, we recommend waiting at least three months before boosting, as recommended by the CDC. reinfection This period is unlikely and it may be beneficial to give the body time to develop its own immune response.
The same applies to previous vaccines. According to the CDC, both children and adults can get the latest boosters if at least two months have passed since their last vaccination.
I think both are minimum intervals. Many experts, including myself, believe there are benefits to waiting perhaps four to six months after infection or the last vaccination. Its extended duration allows the body to develop improved immunity before another boost. A few the study I suggested. However, we also understand and appreciate the need for the CDC to develop streamlined guidance, and it makes sense to follow the guidelines provided.
CNN: Are there any downsides to giving kids boosters?
Wen: This is an important question. The way I would answer is to make it clear that all interventions, including vaccines, have advantages and potential disadvantages. Parents and families weigh the advantages and disadvantages in different ways. For early vaccines, the evidence is very clear that the benefits far outweigh the potential risks. The evidence for boosters is less clear.
For example, for children with serious underlying medical conditions, getting a booster to prevent serious consequences from Covid-19 can be of great benefit. For other children, especially those under her 12s, the first vaccine is probably still very protective and what the added benefit of the booster is in reducing the risk of hospitalization. is not yet clear.
there are several Common Side Effects of Covid-19 VaccineThe majority are harmless and self-resolving. Symptoms such as body aches, fatigue, fever, and pain around the booster jab area usually go away within a few days. (There are very rare cases of myocarditis, the most common inflammation of the heart muscle in adolescent males. These also tend to resolve on their own and cause no long-term effects.) For Parents great consideration.
The CDC recommends boosters, and I think it makes sense for parents who want to follow the guidance to do so. for those on the fenceHaving an open conversation with your pediatrician about your family’s particular situation can also help guide your decisions.
CNN: What about kids who just turned 5? Should they get a new booster?
Wen: I have a son who recently turned 5 and had his primary series when he was 4. His last shot he was in July. I’m not going to give him a booster just yet. I have been waiting at least 6 months for the reasons above.
CNN: Can a parent or caregiver choose to give their child an original booster?
Wen: No. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration withdrew approval of his original monovalent vaccine and replaced it with his updated bivalent booster. This means that you will only receive updated boosters. It applies not only to children, but also to adults.
CNN: Will my child be eligible for the updated booster if it hasn’t been vaccinated yet?
Wen: No. Children who have not yet been vaccinated can only receive the original primary series vaccine. Parents who want their child to get the latest bivalent vaccine should complete the primary series (her two doses of Pfizer or Moderna) before getting the latest booster.
I would like to emphasize the importance of the primary series. Numerous studies have found that her first two doses are highly protective against serious illness, including in children. Her one study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that her first two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine reduced her child’s hospitalizations by more than 80%. This is a call to action for families who have not yet vaccinated their children for the Covid-19 vaccine to get their first vaccination.
