COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 will be available countywide beginning today (Thursday, Nov. 4). Many parents are excited to finally get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 after waiting months for the clinical trials and federal and state regulatory processes to conclude. The FDA, CDC and the State Department of Public Health have authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for young children. Morongo Basin Parents and Guardians are urged to contact their pediatrician or medical provider directly or walk-in today (Thursday) with appointments available Friday at the Joshua Tree Community Center Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The County vaccination site will be closed on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day. While many parents are anxiously awaiting vaccines for their children, many others remain hesitant of the COVID-19 vaccines. A list of frequently asked questions are in this story at Z1077fm.com
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| Dr. Sharon Wang, an infectious disease physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, answered some of the most frequently asked questions from parents about the COVID-19 vaccines: Vaccines were rushed and may not be safe for children. While COVID-19 vaccines were developed rapidly, all steps have been taken to ensure their safety and effectiveness. COVID-19 vaccines were developed using science that has been around for decades. COVID-19 vaccines are not experimental. They went through all the required stages of clinical trials. Extensive testing and monitoring have shown that these vaccines are safe and effective. Kids don’t get COVID-19 and if they do, it’s mild. Young people don’t need to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Although COVID-19 in children is sometimes milder than in adults, some kids infected with the coronavirus can get severe lung infections, become very sick and require hospitalization. This is especially important to remember considering the Delta variant, which is more contagious than other coronavirus variants. The COVID-19 vaccine will impact future fertility. You may be worried the vaccine could potentially impact your child’s future fertility, but the research shows that the vaccine does not negatively impact pregnancy outcomes. There is currently no evidence that antibodies made following COVID-19 vaccination or that vaccine ingredients would cause any problems with becoming pregnant now or in the future. My child could have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine. The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children age 5 through 11 who received the vaccine and no serious side effects have been detected in the ongoing study. The current COVID-19 vaccines don’t protect against the COVID-19 variants. The COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States are highly effective at preventing severe disease and death, including against the Delta variant. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines for children of all ages, please visit sbcovid19.com/pediatric or discuss the vaccines with your medical provider. | ||
For statistics from the COVID-19 Surveillance Dashboard, click the desktop or mobile tab on the County’s sbcovid19.com website.
