By: Chloe Sotomayor

The pharmaceutical company BioNTech has requested the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. 

While the vaccine is available for children aged 12 to adults, the vaccine is currently undergoing clinical trials in children as young as 6 months to 11 years old. The vaccine will be available at the request of parents for strictly emergency use, as younger individuals have less of an infection rate compared to their older counterparts. The vaccine available for children will have a smaller dose than adults, at only a 10-microgram dose. 

I interviewed two individuals that work in the West Virginia daycare and public school system. 

When asked their opinion on administering vaccines to children, both had reaffirming answers. “I think it is a good idea because it reduces the amount of people more vulnerable to the coronavirus. I believe kids are more apt to spread it because of daycares, hand-on activities at school, etc.,” said an individual who has been working in daycare since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Another individual who is a student teacher at an elementary school stated, “Vaccines are already required for admission into any public school, so why would it be any different to want to protect children from COVID? Getting a vaccine is a one-time deal, and it’s way easier than trying to get young students to keep a clean mask on for an 8-hour school day.”

Both concluded that administering the vaccine to children was beneficial, as it could further the progress to eradicate the virus and prevent the spread throughout the public school system. 

The interviewees both said that this opportunity would create positive change in their communities. The daycare worker affirmed, “I think this could make daycares and public school systems safer and can keep them open for longer, making it easier for parents to do their own jobs without worrying about their children’s safety.” 

The student teacher agreed saying, “Schools wouldn’t have to be paranoid about shutting down if a large outbreak were to happen. This would also protect teachers who may be older and be at a higher risk of contracting the illness.” 

Regarding the mask mandate at places in West Virginia public schools, both individuals thought, although it does not affect elementary aged students as bad, it could still be beneficial for parents and their children. One said, “It can sometimes be difficult to get children to understand why they need to wear a mask, so being vaccinated could put those parents at ease who wish to keep their child safe but have trouble persuading them to keep a mask on.”

Parents may be hesitant or have questions surrounding the idea of getting their children vaccinated due to the side effects that can come along with either administered dose. Both interviewees have been double vaccinated and offer their advice to reluctant parents. Neither experienced major complications after getting the vaccine. 

The daycare worker, who contracted the virus before the vaccine was available to the mass public, says that compared to suffering with the virus, the side effects of the vaccine were comparable to that of having a common cold or allergies. The student teacher chimed in, saying that they’d rather experience a few light symptoms for a day or so instead of having the virus for two weeks, along with the lasting effects it can have on your health. 

BioNTech eagerly awaits the FDA to review their data, as the Pfizer vaccine was proposed to be approved for emergency request authorization by late October or early November.