Baer Gets His First Covid Vaccine
If you’ve paid even a lick of attention to my Instagram account or this blog or have had any semblance of a conversation with me, then you know that I’m a science devotee. I love science. I love it so much. I love hypotheses and data and experiments and facts. I love facts backed up with evidence and evidence-based science. It’s my jam. I am literally devoting my life to evidence-based science. And it affects not just my work but my family life, which is why Baer is up to date on his vaccines, having received them in the timeline set forth by the Centers for Disease Control. And now, with the encouragement of his pediatrician and the backing of research and matching publications, Baer is the proud owner of a Fauci ouchie: he just got his first Covid vaccine.
The Covid 19 vaccine is still generally optional, and some parents (even those who are fully vaccinated and boosted) are opting not to vaccinate their children. This is their right. For my husband and me, the choice to vaccinate Baer was just one that aligned with our beliefs. Baer had Covid earlier this year, and it was terrible. He was only very sick for about 36 hours, but they were so rough: he had a fever and was just so uncomfortable. He would only sleep standing up, leaning on a chair for support (not sure why, but it was so sad to see). After witnessing this, we knew that vaccinating him was the best way to keep this from happening again.
You should not simply take my word for this. I am one mother — I’m not even a doctor! But I wanted to share some statistics and other data that make me feel confident that vaccinating my child against Covid 19 is the right choice:
Ø Because it works: Preliminary clinical trial data had Pfizer's vaccine at an 80% effectiveness rate against symptomatic Omicron illness. Moderna’s was significantly lower; however, the antibody levels for both vaccines were shown to be comparable with adults. (Parents Exclusive: Dr. Fauci Discusses COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Under 5 (yahoo.com))
Ø Because the risk still exists: Among children six months old through four years, there have been more than 2 million confirmed cases of Covid. That’s not including the more than 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 200 deaths, per the CDC data. Covid is the fifth most common cause of death in children younger than five. (What you need to know about Covid vaccines for children under age 5 (cnbc.com))
Ø Because the side effects are minimal: Experts say the side effects are relatively minimal and short-lived in small children, especially compared to older children and teenagers. (Covid vaccines for children under 5: CDC director endorses Covid vaccines for babies, toddlers (nbcnews.com))
Ø Because the doses were designed for them: The Pfizer vaccine was authorized by the FDA for children ages six months to four years. The Moderna vaccine was authorized for children ages six months to five years.
Ø Because reinfection is possible: The CDC scientists noted that vaccination provides more protection against reinfection than does previous infection. (How many times can I get reinfected with Covid? (nbcnews.com))
Again, I cannot state enough that as of now, the choice to vaccinate your child against Covid 19 is your choice to make. I just know that when I make such significant decisions, I like to read up on the subject from legitimate, reputable resources. I follow the numbers; I follow the data. And so, my kiddo is vaxxed. Here’s to a healthy future!