Dr. Anna Baldino, board-certified pediatrician and medical director at Independence Blue Cross, discusses the authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five and older. While serious COVID-19 illness is rare in children, some have become seriously ill, especially those with health conditions that increase their risk, such as asthma. Infected children are able to spread the coronavirus to family members, friends, and teachers and school staff, which is especially dangerous to those who are immunocompromised. The vaccine has been proven safe and effective in children 5–11 and 12–17, and is strongly recommended by the CDC.
Visit our blog site, IBX Insights, for more from Dr. Baldino on the topic. You can also find more tips from our medical directors during COVID-19 on YouTube.