Pediatricians say teens in Mississippi are talking with friends and family members about their experiences getting their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Under emergency use authorization by the FDA, the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine received approval from the CDC last week for the 12 to 15 age group. Dr. Anita Henderson, President of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, says unvaccinated teens are asking their parents to be vaccinated.
"They do not want to be quarantined. They are tired of missing out on all the activities that they love. And this vaccination will protect them and protect their family," says Dr. Henderson. "They are really interested, and I am very proud of what I have seen so far from many of our teenagers."
The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine is difficult for most pediatricians to order and store properly.
Dr. Henderson says the Moderna coronavirus vaccine is currently being studied for effectiveness and safety in the 12 to 17 age group. She says Moderna's vaccine would be easier for pediatricians to store, and doses come in smaller shipments.
"We think that we may have data from that soon. The Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines are also in trials down to the age of 6 months. That would help get our younger children vaccinated and protected so that they can be in school, they can be in daycare without having that risk of transmission or contracting the disease."
The Department of Health is partnering with school districts to offer rapid testing on campuses to identify and prevent asymptomatic coronavirus outbreaks.
