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Vaccination

COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available for Children Ages 12-15: Key Takeaways and Guidelines

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Medical experts have emphasized the importance of widespread vaccination in stopping the pandemic, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for use in adolescents ages 12-15. Parents can get their child the COVID-19 vaccine at any place authorized to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The vaccine has been shown to be 100% effective in children ages 12-15, and its benefits outweigh any potential risks. However, medical experts continue to emphasize the need for caution and awareness of potential side effects and allergic reactions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine that comes in two doses, designed to trigger an immune response that produces antibodies and protects people from getting infected when exposed to the real virus.
  • The vaccine was 100% effective in children ages 12-15 in a recent clinical trial, with nearly 2,300 adolescents participating.
  • Fatigue was the most common side effect reported in the 12-15 age group, with 78% of participants reporting it as part of the clinical trial.
  • Other side effects may include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nonallergic reactions such as rash, itching, hives or swelling of the face, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, vomiting, and arm pain.
  • Cases of severe allergic reactions, or anaphylaxis, to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are very rare, occurring at a rate of five cases per 1 million doses administered.
  • Any child with an allergy or risk of anaphylaxis to food, insect venom, oral medications, latex, or environmental allergens is eligible to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, but those with a history of anaphylaxis to any ingredient of the vaccine should not receive it.
  • Medical experts continue to emphasize the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, which include preventing your child from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID-19, preventing your child from spreading the virus to others, and increasing community-wide protection from COVID-19.
  • As of May 21, 2021, among states reporting age data, more than 3.9 million children (about 14%) have been diagnosed with COVID-19, with at least 16,013 hospitalizations and 308 deaths in children of all ages.

Statistics:

  • 2,300 adolescents participated in the clinical trial of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
  • 78% of the 12-15 age group reported fatigue as a side effect.
  • 16 in the placebo group got COVID-19 in the clinical trial.
  • 5 cases of anaphylaxis per 1 million doses administered.
  • 3.9 million children (about 14%) have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of May 21, 2021.
  • 16,013 hospitalizations and 308 deaths in children of all ages have been reported as of May 21, 2021.

Sources:

  • "CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine for Adolescents Ages 12-15" (no specific publication date mentioned)
  • "Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children" (no specific publication date mentioned)
  • Allergy & Asthma Network (no specific publication date mentioned)

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