Why children cannot yet receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s who else may have to wait

The first wave of coronavirus vaccinations is fully underway now that Moderna’s doses Vaccine for COVID-19 They are dispensed along with the Pfizer vaccine. For the vast majority of people, vaccines for both Pfizer and Moderna have been shown to be safe in large-scale, months-long clinical trials. However, as with any new drug, doctors advise caution when taking coronavirus vaccines, especially for people who have had adverse reactions to vaccines in the past.

For example, one of the security measures that is becoming standard with the vaccines for coronavirus It involves staying in place for a period of time after receiving the injection. That’s to give medical professionals time to monitor for any adverse reactions, but it doesn’t mean that doctors expect something bad to happen. Of the more than 1.1 million people who have been vaccinated so far in the US, only a handful have had allergic or other reactions.

read more: Discover your priority to receive the coronavirus vaccine

What about children, people with known allergies, and pregnant or nursing mothers? Here, we compile the data available from the FDA and CDC, along with information from leading health experts, to present guidance on who is recommended to take the Vaccine for COVID-19 and who should contact a medical professional first.

When will there be a coronavirus vaccine for children?

At this time, Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is licensed for use in people 16 years of age and older. (Moderna is designed for ages 18 and over). That’s because of the several dozen COVID-19 vaccines in development, including Pfizer and Moderna, none have been tested in children 12 and under. That is to be expected. Vaccines are typically first tested in adults before researchers begin testing in children, once the drug has been found to be relatively safe.

Another factor is that COVID-19 appears to prevent children from suffering the worst outcomes. A September CDC report counted just 121 children among the 190,000 people who had died so far in the US from coronavirus. Other research has found that children contract and spread the coronavirus about half as much as adults, although they are still considered vectors of the spread of COVID-19, especially among high-risk populations. For example, a CDC report this summer highlighted a Georgia summer camp where the coronavirus was triggered, resulting in more than 250 children and young adults testing positive for COVID-19.

Moderna will soon begin pediatric clinical trials with children ages 12 to 17, the company announced in early December. Good sign.

Can people with allergies get vaccinated against the coronavirus?

In the UK, on ​​the first day of the Pfizer vaccine, doctors observed two patients who experienced severe allergic reactions to the drug. Now, British doctors are being told to monitor patients for 15 minutes after the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the US, six serious allergic reactions occurred in the roughly 272,000 vaccines administered before Dec. 19, according to the CDC. (There are now more than 1.1 million people in the US who have been vaccinated.)

The FDA says complications are rare and that some people may have an allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccines, such as anaphylaxis or inflammation of the tissues, from both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Some scientists are investigating whether an ingredient in the vaccine is the cause, but not the COVID-19 mRNA itself, which could trigger some reactions, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 25.

“The CDC recommends that people with a history of serious allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable drugs, such as allergies to food, pets, poison, environmental or latex, still be able to get vaccinated,” the agency states in one of its COVID. -19 Serious Allergic Reactions and Vaccines Page.

The FDA has published a fact sheet on the Pfizer vaccine and a separate fact sheet on Moderna. Both publications warn: “A severe allergic reaction usually occurs within a few minutes to an hour after receiving a dose …” Several signs and symptoms of such an allergic reaction are listed on both sheets:

• Labored breathing
• Swelling of the face and throat
• A fast heartbeat
• A rash all over the body
• Dizziness and weakness

If you have a history of allergies, you can expect to be monitored for 15 to 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

The FDA also recommends that you should not take the Pfizer vaccine if you have ever had a serious reaction to any of these ingredients:

• Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)
• Lipids ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl) bis (hexane-6,1-diyl) bis (2-hexyldecanoate) 2 [(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N, N-ditetradecylacetamide 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol)
• Potassium chloride
• Monobasic potassium phosphate
• Sodium chloride
• Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
• Saccharose

Similarly, the FDA recommends avoiding Moderna’s vaccine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients:

• MRNA
• Lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol [PEG] 2000 dimyristoyl glycerol [DMG], cholesterol and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC])
• Tromethamine
• Tromethamine hydrochloride
• Acetic acid
• Sodium acetate
• Saccharose

You may still be able to get a vaccine even if you have experienced allergic reactions to vaccines in the past. In its most up-to-date guidance, the CDC echoes the FDA in stating that just because you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to being vaccinated in the past shouldn’t automatically prevent you from getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

“These people can still get the vaccine, but they should be counseled about the unknown risks of developing a serious allergic reaction and weigh these risks against the benefits of the vaccine,” the CDC says on its website.

What if you are pregnant or breastfeeding? Is the vaccine safe?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the FDA leaves the decision on whether to take any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently licensed to you and your doctor. Until now, UK regulators have recommended against doing so until the vaccines can be tested in pregnant and lactating women. (So ​​far no clinical trials have been conducted for this group.) Although coronavirus vaccines have not yet been studied in nursing and pregnant women, many scientists believe that they are generally safe and that the benefits outweigh the potential risks.

How will you be protected against COVID-19 if you can’t get vaccinated?

If you are a patient with a medical condition who is advised against getting the COVID-19 vaccine by your doctor, you may need to wait until enough people in the US have been vaccinated to protect yourself. Even if you don’t get vaccinated yourself, being around enough vaccinated people, known as “herd immunity,” can provide a measure of protection against the coronavirus. But that will take time. It may be necessary for up to 90% of the population to become immune to the disease before those that are still susceptible can be considered safe.

To jumpstart that process, the best thing to do for now is to follow CDC safety guidelines: wear a mask whenever you are indoors (except in your own home), wear a mask in public, avoid large crowds and keep at least six feet away from people you don’t live with.

It’s going to be a while before life gets back to normal. To get an idea of ​​how long, take a look at this timeline of when different groups will be able to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Several coronavirus vaccines are likely to be rolled out over the next several months, and which one will you take it will also help determine when you can take it. Finally, here is our updated list of places where you can get the vaccine.

The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical or health advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.