As many of you are aware, Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is now authorized to be used in children ages 12 and up. This could not have come at a better time as children and adolescents under the age of 18 now account for 1 in 5 of newly reported coronavirus infections. We at North Scottsdale Pediatrics believe that vaccinating your child against COVID-19 is important to not only help stop the spread of this virus and to keep our children healthy, but also to promote safe socialization again. We have all seen the detrimental effects that isolation in this age group can have. And though children tend to have less severe cases of the disease, they can still spread the infection to others and some can have very serious complications requiring hospitalization. We are also seeing long-term side effects from infection including cardiac complications and respiratory issues.
You can find a dose of the vaccine at many local sites including the state-operated PODs (closest to our office at West World) and many local pharmacies. The
Maricopa County Health Department website has a list of vaccine distribution sites.
The dosing of the vaccine is the same in our adolescents as in adults. It is a two shot series 21 days apart. In clinical trials adolescents were found to have high levels of antibodies in their blood post vaccination providing strong protection. Side effects are similar to those seen in adults including pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, fever, chills, and myalgias. These side effects are short lived.
If you have further questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, please reach out to your physician via portal.