Answer: Neither the Pfizer nor Moderna vaccines have yet been adequately studied in children. The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to advocate for adequate research in the pediatric population. Both vaccine makers have now started studies including children 12 years and older. Studies are anticipated to expand to children 5 years and older in the coming months.
Answer: You can rest assured that we will offer COVID vaccine as soon as we know it is both safe and effective in children. Allegro does not have ultra-cold freezers (these are usually only in hospitals), so we will be offering the Moderna vaccine which can be stored at normal vaccine temperatures. Because the Moderna vaccine received FDA emergency use authorization only for patients 18 years and older, we will not be able to give vaccine to pediatric patients until the research on kids is complete. We anticipate that—given the current surge—the studies will be able to achieve statistical significance more rapidly than usual. We are hoping to be able to vaccinate kids prior to the 2021 school year starting in September but do not yet know if this will be achievable.
Answer: We will not be able to offer the Pfizer vaccine as we do not have the specialized ultra-cold freezers that hospitals have.
Answer: Although the first round of vaccine studies did not include pregnant or breastfeeding women, the experts believe that it is safe and the goal is to not limit access to pregnant or breastfeeding women. We recommend you contact your obstetrician to discuss your individual risk factors.
The good news is that there are very few conditions in which the risks of COVID vaccine outweigh the short-and long-term risks of COVID infection. The sooner adults in the United States get vaccinated, the quicker we will achieve herd immunity, which will—in turn—protect our children.
Answer: None of the approved COVID vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.
Answer: Yes, it is recommended that even if you have already had COVID-19, you should still receive the vaccine when it is available to you. There is limited research on how long immunity lasts and a vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others.
Answer: Yes. After getting vaccinated, nothing changes. You should continue to social distance and wear a mask. Once family and friends are vaccinated, socializing gets safer. Once herd immunity is achieved, which will likely take months, socializing will be safe.
