ALABAMA, USA — Now that over half of U.S. adults are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, health officials are focusing on children.
Because kids and teens can get and spread COVID-19 just like adults, health officials are encouraging parents to sign their kids up to be vaccinated.
Pfizer's COVID vaccine is currently approved for people twelve and older and is widely available in Alabama.
Dr. Landers is a pediatrician and says she's watched the pediatric studies of the COVID vaccine closely. She says the Pfizer vaccine is proven to be safe and effective for this age group and recommends people who are eligible get it.
"Kids are turning twelve years of age every day in Alabama, so I recommend take the product that is available that your physician or your provider has," said Dr. Landers.
Although there have been some reports of myocarditis in children who have been vaccinated, officials say it is very rare, and it's still not determined if those cases are related to the vaccine.
Doctors say it's important kids and teens get the shot as they currently make up more than 22% of all current COVID cases.
Dr. Tamera Coyne-Beasley with Children's of Alabama and UAB's Division of Adolescent Medicine said, "If we really want to stem this pandemic and let adolescents get back to doing the things they like to do safely like going to school, interacting with their peers, going to camps, going to entertainment venues, it's incredibly important."
Moderna says its COVID vaccine is 100% effective in kids as young as twelve. The company is expected to seek FDA approval in early June.
ADPH Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers said, "We do expect that the Moderna will likely be approved and that will just add more vaccine supply, but right now we have plenty Pfizer in Alabama to be able to cover the populations that are eligible."
The COVID vaccine can be given with other vaccines. Doctors are also encouraging parents to not wait to get their kids caught up on routine vaccinations.
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