Camden VanBuskirk, 5, gets her first COVID-19 vaccine shot from medical assistant Yaa Prempeh, left, with her mother Monica, right, at West High School in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denv Dr.
Peter Marks, FDA’s vaccine chief, opened the meeting with data showing a "quite troubling surge’’ in young children’s hospitalizations during the omicron wave, and noted 442 children under 4 have died during the pandemic.
That’s far fewer than adult deaths, but should not be dismissed in considering the need for vaccinating the youngest kids, he said."Each child that’s lost essentially fractures a family,’’ Marks said.While endorsing the vaccines, some panel members said they believe chances are minimal for severe illness and death in young children."Risks from vaccination are very low, but so are risks from COVID-19 for the youngest kids," said Dr.
Cody Meissner of Tufts University.FDA reviewers said both brands appear to be safe and effective for children as young as 6 months old in analyses posted ahead of the all-day meeting.