First COVID-19 vaccines for kids administered in Erie County - Spectrum News
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Over 250 appointments filled up in less than 24 hours at Oishei Children's Hospital, as parents brought their children ages 5 to 11 to the first pediatric COVID-19 pop-up vaccine in Erie County to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
Therapy dogs were on hand to ease the nerves of anxious children and parents alike, and while some may have reservations about vaccinating children, medical professionals explain that, as with adults, the benefits of the vaccines outweigh the risks.
"The number one reason why I got my two boys vaccinated this past Wednesday was to protect them," said Oishei Children's Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stephen J. Turkovich. "We talk about COVID-19 being really an adult disease, but it does affect kids."
Since the beginning of the pandemic, over 200 children have been admitted to Oishei with COVID-19, with six currently admitted as of Nov. 6.
Turkovich said 7 to 10% of children who contract COVID-19 are expected to develop "long hauler" syndrome, which includes physical pain, decreased endurance, and cognitive dysfunction.
The vaccine for children is 91% effective in preventing infection and also helps protect against the delta variant. Besides protecting children, however, the pediatric vaccine will help protect others in the community as well.
"The people that worry me most in the community are people with weakened immune systems," Turkovich said. "Even if they're vaccinated, they may not amount to a significant response to the vaccine, and so it's incumbent upon us who can get vaccinated to protect those that are more vulnerable."
In terms of becoming required for children like MMR or Tdap immunizations, lawmakers and medical professionals are awaiting FDA approval for the COVID-19 vaccine with a decision for a possible mandate at least a year off.
In about six to eight months, however, questions about boosters for children could be answered, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be monitoring possible side effects and breakthrough infections.
In the meantime, relief for parents and children alike looking to regain a sense of normalcy.
"Our son Nolan has been quarantined a couple of times because he's had exposures at school," Oishei Children's Hospital Vice President of Operations Jessica Mabie, who brought six-year-old to be vaccinated at the pop-up clinic said. "So thankfully he hasn't been sick. But it's caused him to miss out on school, it's caused him to miss out on other after-school activities. So we're excited to hopefully get him vaccinated and avoid that from happening in the future."
"We just haven't been going many places for the past 20 months; we've been staying at home and trying to keep ourselves and everybody else safe that way," said Jordan Miller-Stubbendick, who, with her husband Adam, brought their 6-year-old son Julian to get vaccinated.
"We have to keep waiting for his little brother, but we'll get there eventually, too," Adam said.
While children can now also help slow the spread by being vaccinated, doctors continue to recommend giving them the earliest chance at immunity: which is at conception, if possible, as children four and under are still at risk.
"If you're pregnant, if you're thinking about getting pregnant, please get vaccinated," Turkovich said. "It protects not only you, but also your baby, because the antibodies that you develop from the vaccine will go through the placenta and protect the baby. We have had some newborns that have been admitted less than a month of age who likely got it from their family member."
More vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11 will be held on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20. Click here for a list of locations and to schedule an appointment.
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