COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter • November 5 • Info for parents: COVID-19 vaccination for children age 5-11

Oakland County, Michigan sent this bulletin at 11/05/2021 03:37 PM EDT

Friday, November 5 Update

Hi there,

Earlier this week, CDC approved emergency use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children 5-11 years of age. As a mother of a school-aged child, I am thrilled and relieved to have this option to help reduce COVID-19 in younger children. As I read the following statement from the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Lee Savio Beers, MD, FAAP, I couldn’t agree more:

“Authorization of the vaccine for younger children is an important step in keeping them healthy and providing their families with peace of mind. The vaccine will make it safe for children to visit friends and family members, celebrate holiday gatherings, and to resume the normal childhood activities that they’ve missed during the pandemic.”

We plan to begin vaccinating 5 years or older on Monday, November 8. A list of clinics for next week are below, but the best place for the most up to the minute updates is our Get Vaccinated page. The rollout to kids in Oakland County will happen in a variety of settings including at school facilities, community centers, doctor’s offices, some pharmacies, special clinics and more.

Hear a brief update from our press conference yesterday and some FAQs from parents below:

In vaccination coverage news, at least 75.2% of those 12 years and older have received at least their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard and the Oakland County Vaccine Hub for even more vaccination data.

In good health,

Leigh-Anne Stafford,

Director, Health and Human Services

Information for parents: COVID-19 vaccination for children age 5-11

Vaccinating children ages 5-11 is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. Parents and guardians - you may have questions about getting a child vaccinated. Here is some information to help you!

If COVID is less severe in children, should I still get my child vaccinated?

CDC recommends 5 years and older should get a vaccination to protect against COVID-19. Although children are at a lower risk of becoming severely ill with COVID-19 compared with adults, children can

Be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19
Get very sick from COVID-19
Have both short and long-term health complications from COVID-19
Spread COVID-19 to others

Children with underlying medical conditions are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with children without underlying medical conditions. Children who get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can also develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).

Some children are even hospitalized and have to be treated in the intensive care unit. Rates in unvaccinated children and teens have increased. Data from the FDA and CDC show that children 5 to 11 years of age account for approximately 9% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. overall, and approximately 40% of pediatric cases. COVID-19 has infected 1.9 million children ages 5 to 11 nationwide and hospitalized 8,300. About one-third of hospitalized children required treatment in the ICU. 146 children have died, and over 5,000 have developed Multisystem Inflammatory Disorder (MIS-C).

Is the COVID vaccine for children 5-11 the same dosage as adults?

The Pfizer dose for children age 5-11 is one-third of the dose (10 micrograms) than what is used for individuals 12 years of age and older (30 micrograms). It is administered as a two-dose series, 3 weeks apart.

How safe and effective is the Pfizer vaccine for this age group?

The FDA recently stated that immune responses of children 5 through 11 years of age was comparable to individuals 16 through 25 years of age. The vaccine was found to be 91% effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in children 5 through 11. The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children age 5-11 who received the vaccine and no serious side effects have been found.

What side effects were experienced by children in the clinical trials?

Side effects may include soreness, redness and swelling at injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills, fever, swollen lymph nodes, nausea, and decreased appetite. More side effects occurred within two days after the second dose and were generally mild to moderate. Most went away within one to two days.

My child recently had COVID-19, should I wait to get them vaccinated?

Children may get vaccinated as soon as they feel better, no longer have symptoms and are done with any isolation or quarantine.

How long after a flu shot can my child get the COVID-19 vaccine?

It is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as any other routine vaccine, including the flu vaccine. A wait time between a flu shot and COVID shot is not necessary. If you have concerns, you should speak with a health care provider.

My child fears shots. How can I prepare them for their vaccination?

Get tips for how to support your child before, during, and after the visit.
Talk to your child before the visit about what to expect.
Tell the doctor or nurse about any allergies your child may have.
Comfort your child during the appointment.
To prevent fainting and injuries related to fainting, your child should be seated or lying down during vaccination and for at least 15 minutes after the vaccine is given.
After your child’s vaccination, you will be asked to stay for 15–30 minutes so your child can be observed in case they have an allergic reaction and need immediate treatment.

Week at a Glance-Health Division upcoming vaccination sites

Check our website for information about who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

School-Aged Vaccination Clinics

Open to anyone age 5 through 18. Anyone under 18 must have a parent/guardian present. Appointments strongly recommended at our Get Vaccinated page or 1-800-848-5533 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).

Monday, Nov. 8