Latest data on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in children

Childhood vaccinations provide immunity to children against serious infectious diseases before they are exposed to them to prevent illness. Many childhood diseases, such as smallpox and polio, have been almost completely eradicated as a result of widespread, standardized childhood vaccination programs. Some vaccinations, such as those for highly contagious diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, and diphtheria, are now commonly required for children to attend school, unless medically contraindicated. However, as the first COVID-19 vaccine has just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for children under emergency use authorization, with others expected to follow soon, many are seeking information on the safety, efficacy, and necessity of COVID-19 vaccines for children, as parents face the critical decision of if and when to vaccinate. This blog answers the most common questions with an in-depth look at the available data and underlying science supporting the recent authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for children 12 and older.