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Vaccination

COVID-19 Vaccine Approval for Children 5 to 11: A Watershed Moment in Ohio

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Pediatric leaders in Ohio are celebrating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) emergency use authorization of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. This approval has been hailed as a game-changer in the fight to protect children and reach herd immunity. Doctors from the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Children's Hospital Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter have encouraged parents to get their young kids vaccinated, emphasizing the vaccine's safety and effectiveness.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 8,300 children in the 5 to 11 age group have been hospitalized with COVID-19 nationwide, with almost 40% of these cases having no preexisting conditions (Dritz).
  • The Pfizer vaccine has been found to have an efficacy rate of over 90% in children ages 5 to 11, with mild and rare side effects including injection site pain and fatigue (Manning-Courtney).
  • Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, encourages people to continue taking precautions despite the vaccine approval, as all 88 Ohio counties are still experiencing high rates of transmission (Vanderhoff).
  • The Vax-2-School scholarship lottery has expanded to include children ages 5 to 11, with prizes including 150 $10,000 scholarships and five $100,000 grand prize scholarships (Ohio Department of Health).
  • Dr. Patty Manning-Courtney emphasized that parents should be confident in the vaccine's safety and effectiveness, citing the vaccine's track record among billions of people worldwide (Manning-Courtney).
  • Dr. Michele Dritz highlighted the unique challenges faced by children during the pandemic, including disrupted school, activities, and social lives (Dritz).

Statistics:

  • 2,500 children ages 5 to 11 participated in the Pfizer vaccine clinical trial (Ohio Department of Health).
  • Almost 40% of children hospitalized with COVID-19 in the 5 to 11 age group had no preexisting conditions (Dritz).
  • Over 100,000 people get vaccinated each month in Ohio, including likely individuals who have been eligible for months and were on the fence (Vanderhoff).
  • 55% of all Ohioans and 65% of Ohioans over 12 have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine (Ohio Department of Health).
  • 172 children have died from COVID-19 in the 5 to 11 age group nationwide (CDC).

Sources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Ohio Department of Health (OHD)
  • Ohio Children's Hospital Association (OCHA)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter (AAP-Ohio)
  • Dr. Michele Dritz, pediatrician and delegate with the American Academy of Pediatrics Ohio Chapter
  • Dr. Patty Manning-Courtney, chief of staff at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, Director of the Ohio Department of Health
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • Ohio Lottery

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