Ochsner Health is enrolling its first participants in a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trial for children between the ages of 5 and 11. Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz said this trial differs from prior ones since the patients will be monitored for 18 months and are more likely to receive the vaccine than a placebo.
“The adults was one to one which means fifty percent got the vaccine and fifty percent got a placebo. This is a two to one which means that sixty-six will get the vaccine,” Garcia-Diaz said.
Getting children vaccinated is critical to reaching herd immunity since they make up a third of the population. System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz said that the increased variants have made the push to allow vaccines for children more critical.
“Children generally are much much less likely to get critically ill for it to have a serious course of infection but that doesn’t mean none,” Lennarz said.
Between 70 to 75 patients are expected to partake in the trial and to have an equal number per site. Lennarz said to better suit the children the potency of the doses has been changed.
“They have titrated the doses down just as we might do with other vaccines so that there are pediatric doses being used,” Lennarz said.
Those interested in participating can visit ochsner.org and schedule their appointment.
