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The approval of the Pfizer #covid19 vaccine for age 12-15 is not unexpected - but it is nonetheless momentous, both for our kids, and for our communities.
A thread.
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧵" title="Thread" aria-label="Emoji: Thread"> https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1391864766407356420">https://twitter.com/US_FDA/st...
A thread.
1) Over the last week alone, the U.S. has seen a 13% decrease in #COVID19 cases and an 8% decrease in hospitalizations.
And hey! the 10 states with the highest vaccination rates were responsible for 50% of the drop in case rates. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-vs-infections-in-one-chart-11620293401">https://www.wsj.com/articles/...
And hey! the 10 states with the highest vaccination rates were responsible for 50% of the drop in case rates. https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccines-vs-infections-in-one-chart-11620293401">https://www.wsj.com/articles/...
It is true that kids and young adults are much less likely to die than older adults.
But: the drop in death rates among younger ages (unvaccinated) has been SLOWER than the drop in death rate among older adults (who are, largely, vaccinated).
#demographicsovertime">https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/ #demographicsovertime">https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-dat...
But: the drop in death rates among younger ages (unvaccinated) has been SLOWER than the drop in death rate among older adults (who are, largely, vaccinated).
#demographicsovertime">https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/ #demographicsovertime">https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-dat...
Specifically:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👵🏽" title="Ältere Frau (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Ältere Frau (mittlerer Hautton)">at peak, prior to vaccines, people age 85+ had a death rate of approx 69/100,000; as of 4/24 it was 1.5/100,000 -> thanks to vaccines!!
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🧒🏽" title="Kind (mittlerer Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Kind (mittlerer Hautton)">vs age 14-17, at peak was 0.04/100,000 - now down to 0.02/100,000 -> virtually no change, bc only 16+ has had any vaccines
**PS: the drop in death rate for older age groups (who are mostly vaccinated) is MUCH GREATER than the drop from prior peaks.
2) Moreover: death is not the only reason to get vaccinated.
Vaccines are also good for kids because it protects them from:
- #longcovid
- MIS-C
- needing masks
- infection & transmitting the virus to others, period! https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/05/03/993141036/children-now-account-for-22-of-new-u-s-covid-cases-why-is-that">https://www.npr.org/sections/...
Vaccines are also good for kids because it protects them from:
- #longcovid
- MIS-C
- needing masks
- infection & transmitting the virus to others, period! https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/05/03/993141036/children-now-account-for-22-of-new-u-s-covid-cases-why-is-that">https://www.npr.org/sections/...
3) Studies from other countries suggest that the vaccines work, not just to protect the person who gets the vaccine from infection / death / side-effects, but also the people around them (by stopping transmission of the virus). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00947-8/fulltext">https://www.thelancet.com/journals/...
(remember, although these vaccines are marvelous, there are some people they DON& #39;T work as well for. By vaccinating kids, we also protect the vulnerable in our society.)
4) Here& #39;s another big, exciting thing about kids getting the vaccines: The mRNA vaccines ALSO protect against variants (including B117 - which is dominant in the US right now).
And, of course, vaccinations protect all of us against NEW variants emerging. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2104974">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/...
And, of course, vaccinations protect all of us against NEW variants emerging. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2104974">https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/...
5) But are they safe?
** Study after study shows that the safety for these mRNA vaccines is tremendously good. And allergy rates are tremendously low.
Including - thanks to the @US_FDA data - in 12-15 year olds. THESE VACCINES ARE SAFE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvPg6PMI-q0">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
** Study after study shows that the safety for these mRNA vaccines is tremendously good. And allergy rates are tremendously low.
Including - thanks to the @US_FDA data - in 12-15 year olds. THESE VACCINES ARE SAFE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvPg6PMI-q0">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
6) But!!!! Is it fair to vaccinate kids in the US when most of the world does not yet have vaccines?
If it were an either/or choice - then no, it would not be fair. But - IMO - it is more nuanced. We can BOTH vaccinate here at home AND support production/distribution abroad.
If it were an either/or choice - then no, it would not be fair. But - IMO - it is more nuanced. We can BOTH vaccinate here at home AND support production/distribution abroad.
7) Finally, at the end of the day, I would argue, as a parent, that any preventable death or illness in kids is bad.
And kids have lost enough this year.
The vaccines are a way out.
And kids have lost enough this year.
The vaccines are a way out.
Getting our kids vaccinated to protect them from the #COVID19 virus is an effective, easy, safe thing to do.
And will allow them to **safely** be maskless at school, at play, and at sports again.
For more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/10/health/pfizer-covid-vaccine-teens.html?action=click&module=Alert&pgtype=Homepage">https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/1... @apoorva_nyc
