The New York Times article, “A New Vaccine Strategy for Children, Just One Dose, for Now,” informs us of a new method for children regarding the vaccine and safety measures.
As a parent, the debate on whether or not you should vaccinate your child can be difficult. Digging into and questioning the risks of the vaccine is something parents will continue to do. With plenty of research, health officials have found that Myocarditis is a rare, but still possible, side effect of the second dose.
Mayo Clinic defines myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can affect your heart's electrical system, reducing its ability to pump as well as causing abnormal heart rhythms. This finding has resulted in parents refusing to vaccinate their children. Health officials have decided to present the option of just one dose for children. Although this will only provide partial protection, it is still proven effective in fighting the virus. Agency research has estimated, “For every million vaccinated boys ages 12 to 17 in the United States, the shots might cause a maximum of 70 myocarditis cases, but they would prevent 5,700 infections, 215 hospitalizations, and two deaths”(Mandavilli 2021).
Although the benefits outweigh the risks, the risk of heart inflammation is still there and is scaring people. In the latest research, The New England Journal of Medicine reported the condition affected males ages 16-29. Infectious disease physician and member of the CDC, Dr. Jeffery Duchin states, “All the data we have so far suggests the disease itself is significantly worse than the vaccine side effects. Given all that, a small risk of myocarditis is well worth taking, he said, and two doses are justified”( Mandavilli 2021).
Sources
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02740-y https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/health/covid-vaccine-children-dose.html
Comments