Experts Say: Do Not Deceive To Vaccinate Your Underage Child

happy pregnant womanartificial insemination kit for humans

Recent reports indicate that some parents are resorting to dishonesty in order to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Currently, there is no FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine for those under 12. However, as schools reopen and COVID-19 hospitalizations among minors rise, some parents are reportedly sneaking their younger children into vaccination clinics and misrepresenting their ages.

The FDA has released a statement urging parents not to lie about their children’s ages to obtain the vaccine. As it stands, it’s difficult to quantify how many children under 12 are receiving “off-label” COVID-19 vaccines, but reports suggest that this practice is occurring. One mother recently shared her experience with a pseudonym, mentioning that she witnessed another family vaccinating their 10-year-old daughter at the same site where she took her 11-year-old son for the shot. In Canada, the Pfizer vaccine has been made available to all children born in 2009 or earlier, which includes those who will turn 12 by the end of the year. This has led many American parents to question why they can’t make similar decisions for their children.

While the desire to vaccinate your almost 12-year-old is understandable, the FDA emphasizes that the dosage for children under 12 may differ from the adult doses currently offered. In a joint statement, Janet Woodcock, the Acting Commissioner of the FDA, and Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, advised parents to wait for the FDA to authorize a vaccine specifically for that age group.

“Parents need to remember that the vaccine doses currently being studied for younger children are not necessarily the same as those authorized for individuals 12 years and older,” they stated. The ongoing clinical trials for children’s COVID-19 vaccines are focused on determining the appropriate dosage strength.

When Can We Expect a Vaccine for Children Under 12?

The FDA officials have called for patience as vaccine manufacturers work diligently to meet this essential public health need. While they cannot provide a specific timeline, they expressed hope that pediatric COVID-19 vaccines will be available in the coming months. Meanwhile, former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who is also on Pfizer’s board, has indicated that a vaccine might be ready for children under 12 by Halloween, although this is a very optimistic timeframe.

For now, the FDA acknowledges the difficulty of the situation and understands parental frustrations, but they urge patience as the process unfolds.

If you’re looking for additional information, check out our other blog posts on home insemination kits or visit Make a Mom for trusted resources. For comprehensive details on intrauterine insemination, Healthline is an excellent resource.

Search Queries:

In summary, while the urge to vaccinate younger children is understandable amid rising COVID-19 cases, deceiving vaccine clinics poses significant risks. The FDA is working toward approving a vaccine for children under 12 and urges parents to be patient.