Parents are still learning how best to manage their children’s health after a COVID-19 infection. This is especially true for children with long-term complications who need a safe return to sports.
Pfizer has announced they are moving into the next phase of trial testing its coronavirus vaccine in children younger than 11. For Alachua County parent, Sarah Rockwell, she has been waiting for this moment.
While kids ages 12 to 15 aren’t at a high risk for contracting COVID-19, they can still face long lasting effects. Parents are highly encouraged to get their kids that shot, but for hesitant parents UF Health experts said to continue wearing masks.
“Certainly, we always want to weigh the risks and the benefits,” said University of Florida College of Medicine professor and pediatrician Dr. Sonja Rasmussen. “The benefits of the vaccine are much more than what might be the potential risks. We haven’t really seen significant risks and side effects.”…
University of Florida Health researcher and pediatrician Sonja A. Rasmussen, M.D., a professor in the departments of pediatrics and epidemiology in the UF College of Medicine and the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions, provides pointers to parents on COVID-19 vaccinations and the continuing need to be…
The AAP recommends adolescents ages 12 and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 now that federal health officials have signed off on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for these ages.
Dr. Kathleen Ryan, UF Health associate division chief for pediatric infectious disease, said although pregnant women were not included in the vaccine trials, the CDC is still recommending pregnant women to get vaccinated.
Families are beginning to ask more questions about when COVID-19 vaccines will be offered to children younger than 16, and how safe and effective they will be when available.
The Alachua County School District’s first Epidemic/Pandemic Response Team is drafting a spring learning plan to submit to the Florida Department of Education following a state emergency order announcing the continuation of online classes.
A Message from AAP President Sara Goza, M.D.
