PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Many parents are concerned about the availability of a vaccine for children under the age of 5. KYW Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough looks at the impact of COVID-19 on our youngest.
Back in February, our nation’s top scientific advisors met and determined that we needed more information before approving a vaccine aimed to be given to infants and children between ages 6 months and 5 years. The delay was a clear signal that approval is never taken lightly.
The decision left these children as the major group in the country vulnerable to COVID-19 as a result of not having access to the vaccine. There are almost 20 million children under age 5 in the United States.
The good news is that children are far less likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19, but there are risks: According to the CDC, 400 children age 4 or younger have died from COVID-19.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.