ATLANTA — 11Alive is Where Atlanta Speaks, and our team took your questions on the COVID-19 vaccine and kids to experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics.
What timeline can we expect for a COVID-19 vaccine for kids and up?
Chelsea Smith is a local mom to three teens, two of which are eligible for the vaccine.
"The 17 and 16-year-olds have gotten their shots," Smith said. "My concern is with our 14-year-old. Is Pfizer close to getting approval for 12 to 15? And if so, will happen before the first day of school?"
11Alive's Liza Lucas posed that question to Dr. Lee Beers, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"We know that it is approved for children 16 and up," Dr. Beers said, adding her own daughter just got the COVID-19 vaccine. "The data has also been submitted for approval for children ages 12 and up. So we don't know for sure when that will come through, but I think it's it's really reasonable to be hopeful that that will happen actually maybe even sometime in the next few weeks, but certainly, by the summertime, I think we feel really good that we'll be able to see a Covid vaccine for children ages 12 and up."
What about potential side effects?
This is a question Dr. Beers said comes up frequently.
"So many experts really feel very incredibly comfortable that they are safe and effective for the ages that they're approved for," Dr. Beers said. "There's a very rigorous process to go through."
"The second really important piece to understand is that while it feels fast to us...the science behind these vaccines has been under development for years, if not decades,= in some cases, and so the science is not new, the science is not rushed," Dr. Beers said, adding it's actually the administrative barriers that have moved more quickly.
Pending vaccine approval for children under 16, should families keep kids home from school?
Dr. Beers said families should be able to make this decision based on what's right for their family.
"One of the things that we have been very clear about as the American Academy of Pediatrics is that...there's increasing evidence that children can be in school safely, even without a vaccine," Dr. Beers said. "So if you have other public health measures in places such as masking and distancing and good hand washing...we've seen that children can be in school safely, even without a vaccine."
She said that's an important consideration for families to take into account when it comes to their decision.
According to Dr. Beers, the individual situation for a child is equally important.
"Are they doing okay with their virtual learning? Are they thriving under virtual learning, are they really struggling, and are they really missing out on the experience of in-person education and the experience of the social interaction because those things are incredibly important, too," Dr. Beers said. "When a family's making a decision I think those are the two things to really, really take into account, and keep in mind."
The AAP remains concerned about kids falling behind on well-visits and regular immunizations
Dr. Beers said pediatricians on the whole are enthusiastic when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, but they are concerned about kids missing regular check-ups.
"There's no better time than now to get back into the doctor's office to get caught up on your shots and caught up on well-visits," Dr. Beers said. "Certainly the last thing we want right now is for a child to become ill with something that they could prevent from a vaccine, like measles or whooping cough."
Such immunizations can also play a role when it comes to children being eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, a factor Dr. Beers said some families may not be aware of.
"Actually with the Covid vaccine at least right now, the recommendation is that you don't give other vaccines within a period of time around when you get the Covid vaccine," Dr. Beers said. "So it's all the more reason to get your child in right now, to get them caught up on everything so that when they are eligible for the Covid vaccine they can do that and get that done without, without delay."