Post : What’s Different About COVID Vaccines for Kids?
URL : [link removed]
Posted : October 13, 2021 at 6:57 pm
Author : Vincent Iannelli, MD
Tags : adult-dose, covid vaccines for kids, COVID-19 vaccine
Categories : COVID-19

You have likely heard that we should soon be getting COVID vaccines for our younger kids ( [link removed] ) .

While that's great news for those of us who want to vaccinate and protect our kids, the announcement of these vaccines has already caused some confusion, even though they haven't been authorized yet ( [link removed] ) .

Why?

> "COVID-19 vaccines awaiting authorization for children ages 5-11 years will have different doses, dilution requirements and storage conditions than the vaccines currently available for adolescents and adults, according to Pfizer."
>
> Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids would require different doses, dilution, storage

These COVID vaccines for kids will be a little different than those given to teens and adults.

What’s Different About COVID Vaccines for Kids?

Before we get into those differences, folks should understand that it is not that uncommon for there to be different formulations of vaccines for adults ( [link removed] ) and kids.

That's what we have for:

* DTaP (infants and young children) vs Tdap (teens and adults)
* hepatitis A vaccine - children get half the adult dose
* hepatitis B vaccine - children get half the adult dose
* standard influenza vaccines (all ages) vs high dose flu shot (seniors)

So the idea that COVID vaccines for children, teens, and adults have some differences shouldn't be at all surprising!

> "The COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and BioNTech is proposed to be given in two 10-microgram (mcg) doses administered 21 days apart. The dosage is one-third of the adolescent and adult dose."
>
> Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids would require different doses, dilution, storage

But why do younger children get a small dose of this COVID vaccine?

[link removed] The pediatric clinical trials compared low, mid, and high dose COVID vaccines.

The smaller dose was chosen because in clinical trials it was found to be safe and provided the same immune response as larger doses!

> "Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced results from a Phase 2/3 trial showing a favorable safety profile and robust neutralizing antibody responses in children 5 to 11 years of age using a two-dose regimen of 10 µg administered 21 days apart, a smaller dose than the 30 µg dose used for people 12 and older. The antibody responses in the participants given 10 µg doses were comparable to those recorded in a previous Pfizer-BioNTech study in people 16 to 25 years of age immunized with 30 µg doses. The 10 µg dose was carefully selected as the preferred dose for safety, tolerability and immunogenicity in children 5 to 11 years of age."
>
> Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Positive Topline Results From Pivotal Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years

And since you get the same immune response, that should put to rest any ideas of parents wanting to wait until their kids actually turn 12 to get them vaccinated.

> "COVID-19 vaccines are life-saving vaccines. Individuals should receive the first vaccine they are eligible to receive and that is available in their community. Delaying immunization leaves an individual vulnerable to infection for a longer period of time, placing them at greater risk of serious illness and death."
>
> About the COVID-19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions

Get your child vaccinated and protected with an age appropriate dose when a COVID vaccine becomes available to your child. Any delay simply puts them at risk to get COVID.

More on COVID Vaccines for Kids

* Are Kids Dying With COVID-19? ( [link removed] )
* Off-Label Use of COVID Vaccines for Kids ( [link removed] )
* Why You Should Get Vaccinated Even Though You Had COVID ( [link removed] )
* COVID Vaccine Booster Doses ( [link removed] )
* Do COVID Vaccines Prevent Transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus? ( [link removed] )
* The Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines ( [link removed] )
* I’m Not Anti-Vaccine, I Just Don’t Believe in the COVID-19 Vaccine ( [link removed] )
* Is It Too Late to Get a COVID Vaccine? ( [link removed] )
* Myths About Your Baby’s Immature Immune System ( [link removed] )
* Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids would require different doses, dilution, storage ( [link removed] )
* A Phase 1/2/3 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of an RNA Vaccine Candidate Against COVID-19 in Healthy Children and Young Adults ( [link removed] )
* Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Positive Topline Results From Pivotal Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to 11 Years ( [link removed] )
* Pfizer and BioNTech Submit Initial Data to U.S. FDA From Pivotal Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine in Children 5 to <12 Years of Age ( [link removed] )

AAP - About the ( [link removed] ) COVID-19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions ( [link removed] )

FDA - FDA Will Follow The Science On COVID ( [link removed] ) -19 Vaccines For Young Children ( [link removed] )

* Are COVID-19 Vaccines Going To Cause Infertility? ( [link removed] )

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