If You Haven’t Vaccinated Your 12- to 17-Year-Old Against COVID, What’s Holding You Back?

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As of May 10 of this year, the Pfizer COVID vaccine has been authorized for children aged 12 to 17. Just three days later, on the first day it became available in my state, my 14-year-old son received his first dose. It was a momentous occasion for our family.

I had no reservations about getting my son vaccinated. My husband and I were already vaccinated, I felt confident in the safety data available, and I believed it was crucial for my son to get the vaccine. He suffers from asthma, and I had kept him relatively isolated for a year. His vaccination represented freedom, and I viewed it as a vital step to safeguard our family and community.

While I understand why some parents may hesitate, I was taken aback to learn that as of July 28, only 7.1 million children had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) reports that only 28% of kids aged 12-15 and 40% of those aged 16-17 have received both doses. This means that 72% of 12-15-year-olds and 60% of 16-17-year-olds remain unvaccinated.

This is concerning, especially with schools reopening and the Delta variant circulating. We need to ensure as many eligible kids are vaccinated as possible. Vaccination not only protects individuals but also those around them and the community at large.

This is crucial for keeping younger students, who cannot yet get vaccinated, safe. Older vaccinated students provide protection for younger classmates, teachers, and staff, many of whom may be older or have compromised immune systems. It also reduces the risk of your teen bringing the virus home, which is particularly important if you have unvaccinated family members.

The Washington Post spoke to parents who are still hesitant about vaccinating their teens. Their concerns include the short duration of testing in adolescents, worries about side effects (especially myocarditis), and the fact that teens often experience milder cases of COVID.

I empathize with these concerns. Parents want what’s best for their children, and many fears stem from misinformation. Regarding side effects, the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions is minimal. Dr. Katelyn Jetelina from Your Local Epidemiologist notes that since December, 129,059 adolescents have participated in the CDC’s post-vaccination monitoring program, V-Safe. Of those, 49-56% experienced side effects after their first dose and 63-70% after their second. Most side effects were akin to those seen in adults, such as sore arms and fatigue.

Only 0.5-0.8% required medical attention post-vaccination, and 0.02-0.04% were hospitalized—a figure that does not necessarily indicate a direct correlation to the vaccine.

As for myocarditis, which has been associated with the vaccine in adolescents, Dr. Jetelina reports 147 cases in the 12-17 age group, all of which responded well to treatment and resulted in no fatalities. Importantly, the risk of heart complications from COVID itself is significantly higher than from the vaccine.

Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency medicine physician, emphasizes that hospitalizations due to COVID have far more severe consequences than those related to vaccination.

COVID-19 is a serious illness with real risks. While it may be mild for some children, severe cases can and do occur, including long-term effects and fatalities. Over 400 children have died from COVID since the pandemic began. As Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC director, stated, the loss of even one child to a respiratory disease is unacceptable.

The solution is straightforward: vaccinations. They are safe, effective, and crucial for keeping your 12-17-year-olds out of the hospital if they contract the virus. Vaccination is also a vital component of safely reopening schools and moving towards ending the pandemic.

We all have a role to play in this, and that includes vaccinating our eligible children. For more information, check out this excellent resource on intrauterine insemination. Additionally, you can explore more about home insemination on this blog post or learn about the Cryobaby at-home insemination kit.

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In summary, vaccinating your 12- to 17-year-olds against COVID-19 is not just about individual health; it’s about community safety and protecting those who are vulnerable. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, and it’s a necessary step towards a healthy and safe future for all.

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