A comment from an FDA advisory panel member, who stated that “we’re never going to learn about how safe this vaccine is unless we start giving it,” has been taken out of context and used by vaccine opponents, including a U.S. congressperson, to cast doubt on COVID-19 vaccines for younger children. The advisor’s full remarks recognized the fact that, while the vaccines are very safe and effective in children, the cost-benefit analysis is different for younger populations who are less susceptible to serious complications from COVID-19. That does not mean that the vaccines have not been tested in children or that they were found to be anything other than safe and effective. The FDA voted to authorize vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 because the benefits of vaccination—more than 90 percent efficacy against COVID-19—far outweigh the extremely rare potential risks in the population.
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The authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 has spurred misinformation online. According to polls by the Kaiser Family Foundation, less than 30 percent of parents are planning to vaccinate their children right away. Acknowledging the concerns of parents about child vaccination is recommended, as is explaining how vaccination will help protect both children and their families. Helpful talking points in both English and Spanish are available here. Fact Checking Source(s): Reuters, PolitiFact, Washington Post
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