The advisory committee found that the benefits of the shot outweighed the risks, voting 17-0 in favor of abstinence. If the FDA follows the panel’s advice, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agrees, shots for young children could be started as early as next week.
The move comes as federal regulators and scientists argue that thousands of children aged 5 to 11 were hospitalized with Covid-19, and nearly 100 children died during the pandemic.
Pfizer has reduced its dosage for young children to one-third of the strength given to children 12 years of age and older. Experts say the lower dosage should reduce the risk of side effects.
A pediatric Covid-19 vaccine has been highly anticipated by many parents eager to protect their children at school, and has become an increasingly pressing issue as holiday gatherings approach.
A handful of countries have already authorized Covid-19 vaccines for children. In September, Cuba became the first country in the world to vaccinate children under the age of 2. Chile, China, El Salvador and the United Arab Emirates have also approved vaccines for young children.
Many European countries are still weighing whether to vaccinate children under the age of 12. Meanwhile, in much of the world, vaccination for under-12s is not an option due to dose constraints.
you asked we answered
ns: How can I help prepare my child for the vaccine?
Ages 5 to 7:
- Give a brief step-by-step description of what to expect.
- Trust the power of the game. Young children process their emotions through play, so before the kids leave, send some stuffed animals or dolls to the vet for their vaccinations!
- Keep your hands busy and their minds busy working through their anticipated anxiety.
- Apply ice to the injection site before and after the shot.
Ages 8 to 11:
- Children in this age group may have more detailed questions. Give honest answers and get additional information if you’re not sure how to answer. Empathize with them and listen to their concerns.
- Empower your older children to write down a list of questions to ask the nurse or doctor at the appointment to ease their concerns.
- Ask your child to make a playlist to listen to on the go.
- Plan to watch an interesting video (set it up so you don’t have to search!) or use a favorite app.
reading of the week
Europe enters its second pandemic winter
Caseloads may be higher in some Western European countries, but thanks to their progress on vaccination, Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations have remained largely flat compared to their Eastern counterparts. But while health experts say the crisis in Western Europe will not reach the level we have seen in the past, the worsening wave in the United Kingdom shows that vaccines are not a silver bullet.
Dirty, used medical gloves imported into the US
In early 2020, demand for personal protective equipment shot through the roof as the pandemic gripped the planet. Medical-grade nitrile gloves used by doctors to examine patients overnight turned into a valuable commodity – and the market to buy them became a dark underworld.
Still, despite the potential risk of putting healthcare workers and patients on the front lines, US officials have struggled to get a handle on the illegal trade – partly because import regulations of protective medical equipment were temporarily lifted at the height of the pandemic. was suspended. was suspended from – and is still suspended today.
Your doctor may not know about this life-saving covid treatment
Arana said, ‘The next day I felt the difference. After two days I got out of bed and cleaned the house and fed my children.” “I really think the antibodies saved my life.”
A CNN investigation shows Arana is not alone in the challenge of finding monoclonal antibodies. Many patients who qualify for the drugs say their doctors never mentioned them, even though it’s been almost a year since antibodies were first authorized by the US FDA, the only treatment for early covid , and studies have shown that they can dramatically reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
top tip
Loi candy corn is ready
CDC Director Rochelle Valensky and America’s top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci encourage kids to hang out on Halloween and enjoy trick-or-treating — even those still vaccinated. too small for
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