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The updated Covid-19 booster vaccine was recently cleared to include children as young as 5 years old, and Illinois health officials are supporting the expansion of access in a plan to strengthen protection against new strains of the virus.
Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control Green is on Qualification expansion Wednesday. Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said in a statement Friday that the new access range comes at a critical time in Illinois.
According to IDPH data, 16 counties have been rated at a “moderate” level of Covid community. Last week, 10,416 new cases of the virus were registered, among which 52 people died. Following the national trend, the state also had “significant increases in severe childhood respiratory infections,” Vora said.
“The updated Covid-19 booster, along with the flu vaccine, gives parents two powerful tools to protect their children from serious illness and hospitalization,” Vora said. “With childhood respiratory illnesses on the rise and illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu on the rise this fall and winter, it’s time to get these safe and effective vaccines.
The updated stimulus package, which has been modified to specifically target Omicron’s covid variant and now highly infectious sub-variants, was originally released in September. Officials recommend that eligible members of the community be admitted. Inspirational photos before HalloweenIn an effort to provide extra protection heading into the winter and upcoming holidays.
The shots come as Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwady expressed concern. earlier this week “All signs point” to the coming flu season on influenza virus-related cases and hospitalizations.
“The Southern Hemisphere had a really bad flu season during their winter. “Australia is coming off its worst flu season in five years, with levels far higher than last year,” Arwadi said on Facebook Live. All signs point to this being a very bad flu season, and my concern is that if we have a bad flu season on top of a bad covid season, this could really put our health care system at risk.
Arwadi said any spike in Covid cases could put a severe strain on the health care system if the flu season goes bad, adding that her concern for children is that RSV cases are on the rise among young people.
“We’re seeing a huge increase in respiratory viruses,” she said, even before the flu took off seriously. “We are seeing our children’s hospitals overflowing with children being treated for RSV and other childhood viruses.”
In an interview with NBC 5’s Lauren Petty on Thursday, Arwadi emphasized that the new covid booster for children as young as 5 years old is critical to preventing surgery that could happen in the next few months.
“Everybody’s getting it. [the booster] “We’re hoping to figure out how to stay out of trouble this fall and winter,” she said.
With eligibility expanding to children, Arwady recommends that everyone 5 and older get the new booster shot, saying the recommended time frame is 6 months after your most recent booster.
Arwadi said she expects shooting to begin early next week in the Chicago area.
“Assuming there are no problems with shipping, we plan to start on Monday,” Arwadi said. “Your pharmacy, your doctor’s office is now authorized to begin dispensing to those 5 and older.”
“You can get your covid shot and your flu shot, and if you want, get one in each arm. It’s more important than ever to do that,” Arwady said, stressing the importance of staying healthy ahead of the holidays as the colder weather sets in. .”
Here’s what we currently know about the new vaccines available for children:
What shots can children receive and who qualifies?
The FDA approved Pfizer’s bivalent shots Wednesday for children in elementary school, or ages 5 to 11, and competitor Moderna’s version for up to 6 years.
The CDC’s recommendations on how vaccines should be used were also signed off hours later.
Only people who get their first vaccination — with any of the original-formula versions — are eligible for the updated boost. According to the FDA, the booster can only be given at least two months after the completion of the primary or booster vaccination in children.
Less than a third of children aged 5 to 11 have taken two primary doses and will be eligible for the new incentive.
When can shots start?
Pfizer says that in addition to adult-dose deliveries, up to 6 million pediatric doses can be delivered in a given week.
Chicago Public Health Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwady said Tuesday, “My guess is that the first thing we’re going to do next week or the week after that is we’re going to have two vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds.” to permission.
Is the dosage different for children?
This age group will get a dose of the new Omicron Target booster for children — and they can receive it at least two months after the last dose, whether it’s their primary immunization series or an earlier booster, the FDA said.
For the updated incentive, developed by Pfizer and its partner BioEnTech, children ages 5 to 11 will receive one-third the amount received by anyone 12 or older.
So far, Moderna’s updated booster has been cleared for adults only. The FDA expanded that adult dose of twice the amount for 12- to 17-year-olds and half the dose for 6- to 11-year-olds.
Are there security concerns?
Dr. Jason Newland, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Washington University in St. Louis, said the improved incentives are “extremely important” to keep kids healthy and in school.
Parents need to know, “There is no safety risk with bivalent vaccines, Moderna or Pfizer,” Newland added.
How are Bivalent Shots Different?
Experts say the improved bullets have advantages: they contain half the recipe for targeting the original coronavirus and half the protection of the original BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions.
These combined, or “bivalent,” boosters are designed to boost immune defenses so that people are better protected against severe disease even if they encounter a microbe relative in the coming months — or a different mutation of the original virus.
“We want to have the best of both worlds,” Dr. Bill Gruber, a pediatrician at Pfizer, told The Associated Press. He hopes the improved vaccines will “reinvigorate the desire to protect children for the winter.”
Why should children take it?
“As children physically return to school and people resume pre-pandemic behaviors and activities, they are at greater risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccination remains the most effective measure to prevent the serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalizations and deaths,” FDA’s chief vaccine officer said. In a statement, Dr. Peter Marks said, “Although it is particularly the case, COVID-19 tends to be less common in children than in adults. As a wave of COVID-19 has occurred, many children have been infected and hospitalized. Children can experience long-term effects, even with a mild illness at first.” .We encourage parents to get children’s primary vaccinations.Enhanced booster dose when eligible.
How much protection do the bullets provide?
How much protection does an updated covid-19 booster shot provide? This is hard to figure out. Pfizer and Moderna are starting studies in young children.
But the FDA has cleared changes to the COVID-19 booster without requiring human test results — just as it approves changes to flu vaccines every year. That’s in part because both companies have previously studied experimental vaccines tailored to target Covid-19 variants, including an earlier version of Omicron, and have safely developed antibodies that fight the virus.
“This is obviously a significant improvement, a better vaccine than what was before,” Jeha said earlier this week.
Jha urges adults to get their updated vaccine in October — just as they would get a flu shot — or at least before holiday gatherings with high-risk family and friends. People who have recently had Covid-19 still need a boost but can wait about three months, he added.
What about children under 5?
The first vaccinations for the little tots don’t open until mid-June for those under 5 — and it will be several more months before regulators decide whether they need a boost using the improved formula.
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