FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 28, 2021                    

COVID-19 VACCINES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Policy Statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics

JACKSONVILLE, FL The global pandemic has disproportionately affected the educational, mental and emotional health of children and adolescents over the past
14 months. Although these age groups typically experience fewer physical effects from the COVID-19 virus, children are not immune from serious illness, and they can and do contribute to the spread of the virus to more vulnerable populations.

Vaccinating children and adolescents is key to achieving herd immunity and an end to this pandemic. The medical community in this region trusts the veracity of the research into these vaccines. Therefore, we support the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement below on COVID-19 vaccine in children and adolescents and recommend the use of any EUA vaccine approved in children 12 and up, if there is no contraindication.

Vaccines are safe and effective in protecting individuals and populations against infectious diseases. New vaccines are evaluated by a long-standing, rigorous, and transparent process through the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by which safety and efficacy data are reviewed prior to authorization and recommendation.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following related to COVID-19 vaccine in children and adolescents:

• The AAP recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all children and adolescents 12 years of age and older who do not have contraindications using a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for use for their age.
• Any COVID-19 vaccine authorized through Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA, recommended by the CDC, and appropriate by age and health status can be used for COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents.
• Given the importance of routine vaccination and the need for rapid uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, the AAP supports coadministration of routine childhood and adolescent immunizations with COVID-19 vaccines (or vaccination in the days before or after) for children and adolescents who are behind on or due for immunizations (based on the CDC/AAP Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule) and/or at increased risk from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Northeast Florida Pediatric Society, the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, Inc., the Duval County Medical Society, the Northeast Florida Medical Society, the First Coast Black Nurses Association, the Partnership for Child Health and the Child Guidance Center support this press release statement.

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The Northeast Florida Pediatric Society at www.nefps.org is a society for practitioners dedicated to the health care of children in Northeast Florida.