‘Really robust process’: What parents should know ahead of a COVID-19 vaccine approval for kids

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — If a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for middle and high school-aged kids in the next few weeks, there are certain things doctors want parents to know.

Doctors say when the data on Pfizer’s vaccine comes out, it’s important to look closely at the results.

“There’s a really robust process for the review and requirements to get it to that point,” UW Health’s Dr. Matt Anderson said. “So again safety is the number one priority. I would really stress that, nobody wants to give the vaccine to 12-15-year-olds that isn’t safe and doesn’t have a really good profile as far as the risk-benefit.”

Anderson is a parent himself and encourages people to pay attention to the data and what the results of the study say in regard to the vaccine.

If approved, Anderson says it will be a big step in the right direction, not only for the age group, but for herd immunity.

“Whether it’s sporting activities or school contacts and exposures or quarantines and such, the game changes a little bit in those situations, so I think it’s important to remember some of those benefits as well,” he said. “As we get more and more of the population vaccinated, adolescents are a key part of that.”

Right now, it’s unclear if the dosage of the vaccine would be different for adolescents than it is for adults.