What’s Going On With Vaccines for Kids Under 5?

 

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In the article “What’s Going On With Vaccines for Kids Under 5?” from the New York Times, author Jessica Grose lists the benefits of vaccines for the age group, and explains remaining uncertainties on the topic which may turn parents off from getting their child vaccinated. This past Tuesday, New York Times’s Noah Weiland and Sharon LaFraniere reported that “children 2 to 4 years old who were given two shots were infected at a rate 57% lower than the children in the placebo group. Children 6 months to 2 years old who got shots were infected at a rate 50% lower than the placebo group” based on an unnamed source familiar with the Pfizer BioNTech data. That being said, the vaccine lowers the chances of COVID-19 infection drastically, allowing for a further sense of safety as to the pandemic. Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who researches vaccines, was asked about the risk of the possible side effect myocarditis -- an inflammation of the heart muscle -- for the age group. Parents have expressed significant concerns as to myocarditis beforehand, yet O’Leary’s study based on health data of around two million people found that COVID-19 is surprisingly more likely to cause myocarditis than the vaccine itself. The next issue Grose considers is rushing to release the vaccine now, or waiting a few weeks. Allowing access to vaccines for the under-five age group now means more of the population would be vaccinated sooner, yet rushing may also cause parents to lose trust in the scientific process – ultimately resulting in less children vaccinated by the fall. Grose’s guess is that once the vaccine is available for these children, it will be their personal pediatricians and other local associations, including schools, that will be most compelling in convincing parents to get the shots for their kids. Grose states that the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that when schools encouraged vaccines, parents were more likely to follow through with getting their children vaccinated. Kaiser also found that “pediatricians remain parents’ most trusted source of information on the Covid-19 vaccine for children”.

This article informs readers of the existing status of the COVID-19 vaccine in the under 5 age group. Parents of such children benefit from having such information, as it may answer some of their related questions and ease concerns. After reading the article, parents are likely more convinced about getting their child a vaccine, as the article provides factual statistics and a stronger argument for vaccination of this age group rather than not. As the pandemic unfortunately continues to carry on, it is vital for uncertain parents to look into the topic and gain knowledge.

Jessica Grose’s article was very informative and well-written, containing much important information for readers to digest. Grose’s article is an opinion piece, but it still provides the strengths of the other side of the argument, as well. Acknowledging the opposing argument is quite important in opinion pieces because it boosts credibility and respect. The author included many details I did not know of before, especially the side effect myocarditis being more likely with COVID-19 than as a side effect. I found that particularly interesting. However, I think Grose could have included more comparisons, showing percentages comparing the vaccinated and unvaccinated, in order to shed light on the positive effects of the vaccine even more.